FAA CLEEN program envisions greener airspace

In its latest effort to make air travel cleaner and greener, the Federal Aviation Administration has announced $125 million in new contracts that will get us closer to technologies for reducing commercial jet fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and noise. Since FAA forecasts significant air traffic growth over the next 20 years, this is good news for all of us.

Through their CLEEN--Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise--program, FAA has awarded contracts to five companies--Boeing, General Electric, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls Royce--to develop and demonstrate new technologies, procedures, and alternative fuels that help us meet our environmental and energy goals: 

• Reducing fuel burn by 33%, which will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
• Reducing landing and takeoff nitrogen oxide emissions by 60%--without increasing other emissions--over the 2004 International Civil Aviation Organization standard;
• Reducing noise levels by 32 dB relative to the current noise standard; and
• Increasing use of more sustainable jet fuels, with transition strategies that don't require significant aircraft or engine modification.

Now those are ambitious goals, but through the government-industry consortium announced by FAA today, we are one step closer to achieving them.

And the recipient companies' agreement to match these funds will help us get there more cost-effectively. This will double the impact of the $125 million in awards to $250 million. Some or all of the five companies may even choose to exceed their match, adding further value to these contracts.

Look, there's no question that commercial aviation is of vital importance to America. But we also have a responsibility to look for ways to reduce our environmental footprint and our energy consumption.

And with its NextGen advances and CLEEN contracts, the FAA is demonstrating their commitment to that effort. As FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said today, "The CLEEN program is a central piece of our environmental strategy."

Comments

[Michael E. Bailey]

CLEEN is another important environmental and energy efficiency program that will work. I need to fly once in a while from where I am in Southern California up to Northern California and sometimes, I look out the window and see planes going by in the opposite direction trailing black exhaust out the rear of the engines. So hopefully one benefit of CLEEN will be to reduce the amount of exhaust out of jet engine tail pipes. That will be good because the exhaust eventually finds its way to the ground. One other thing I notice sometimes is the strong smell of diesel fuel in the jet way leading from the plane to the terminal building and at one airport, the state has posted a warning sign in the jetway just before you leave it to get on the plane saying that avaiation fuel and diesel fuel exhaust components are known to cause cancer. CLEEN will also be a good public health program. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Wedding photography Training]

Greener air space would be an excellent idea if it can be implemented.The airlines are the one of the most environment polluting element in the world. so reducing the green house emission to some extent is also like something better than nothing.

[andreas raul]

Who exactly are the recepients of these monies?

What will the deliverables be?

How much of the monies will be utilized for actual research and development and how much in "overheads"?

[Walt Brewer]

The jet trails in the photo, and what one sees in flight are primarily clean water vapor.
CO2 being produced also to be sure, but modern jet engines have eliminated the black stuff.

[Brien A. Seeley M.D.]

Part of this program should be directed to support the non-profit CAFE Foundation's work to conduct NASA's Green Flight Challenge (GFC) for 200 pMPG on-demand aircraft and its follow-on event GFC II for near-silent electric V/ESTOL aircraft. See:
Federal Register: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-9367.pdf

and
NASA colloquium news: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/researchernews/rn_seeley.html

[ForestWander]

This is a great initiative. Cleaner air is always good for our environment. However, I think reducing the noise from commercial aircraft is also a great undertaking. Often I will hike into the forest or mountainous areas of West Virginia and it will be very peaceful and quiet but the only noise I may hear is a Jet airliner going across the sky. Although many may not even pay attention to this, it is apparent when you savor the pristeen sounds of nature.

[Catering Services]

Greener airspace is would be an excellent idea if it can be implemented. Really, It is a great initiative.....