date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 18:05:14 -0000
from: "Prof B.E. Launder" <brian.launder@umist.ac.uk>
subject: (Fwd) Re: INQUIRY INTO "THE FUTURE OF AVIATION" From: Richard 
to: M.hulme@uea.ac.uk, n.jenkins@umist.ac.uk, h.j.schellnhuber@uea.ac.uk, simon.shackley@umist.ac.uk

<x-rich><color><param>0100,0100,0100</param>The Royal Academy of Engineering requested my input on "The 
future of Aviation". I provided the response that follows. I realize 
that most of it wasn't really in the area or from the point of view 
they were seeking input but I don't think that matters.


Brian


------- Forwarded message follows -------

</color>From:           	<color><param>0000,0000,8000</param>Prof B.E. Launder <<brian.launder@umist.ac.uk></color>

To:             	<color><param>0000,0000,8000</param>"Hearn Sylvia (Miss)" <<HearnS@raeng.co.uk></color>

<bold>Subject:        	<color><param>0000,0000,8000</param>Re: INQUIRY INTO "THE FUTURE OF AVIATION" From: Richard Ploszek</bold></color>

Copies to:      	<color><param>0000,0000,8000</param>Response@raeng.co.uk</color>

Send reply to:  	<color><param>0000,0000,8000</param>brian.launder@umist.ac.uk</color>

Date sent:      	<color><param>0000,0000,8000</param>Tue, 11 Mar 2003 15:35:16 -0000</color>


 


<bold><italic>Dear Mr Ploszek: 


I'm replying in my role as regional director of the Tyndall  
Centre for Climate Change Research. My concern is here  
exclusively concerned with reducing the CO2 emission from  
aircraft. While at present the proportion of CO2 associated  
directly with aircraft movement is small, because air traffic is  
growing and there is at least a vision for reducing CO2 from  
automobiles, it is likely that releases from aircraft will become  
a substantial contributor in the next decade if nothing is done. 


* A major "driver" of the present pattern of evolution is that  
there is no tax levied on aviation fuel. This is a problem that  
MUST be tackled, desirably at a world level but at least within  
a European framework. 


* Moreover, if the Government introduces a carbon tax, that  
should also be applied to aircraft movements. [Again  
international agreements are required] 


* The above development would provide a stimulus to the  
development of fail-safe designs for hydrogen-fuelled aircraft. 


* It seems to me that more should be done to develop modes  
of aerial transport that consumed much less fuel per passenger 
mile than existing schemes (whether or not one is adopting  
hydrogen as a fuel). Perhaps there is scope for the return of the 
airship ...or perhaps some hybrid, intermediate version  
between an airship and a conventional aeroplane. Of course,  
this would also greatly reduce the problem from the other  
main pollutant source with aircraft: noise! No long runways  
would be needed either. 


* In connection with the above, with leisure transport,  
especially high speed is not of great advantage since at  
present, for European flights, actual flying time is less than  
(often MUCH less than) one-fifth of the total journey time from  
home to hotel. So a comfortable airship flight at just 400km/hr 
might be very attractive, especially if the fuel savings were  
properly factored into the ticket price. 


* Although the photographs released of the NASA solar- 
powered aircraft are both intriguing and impressive, it seems  
likely that the commercial implementaion of such a scheme is  
a long way off. Nevertheless, it's surely a goal to be pursued. 


* Finally, more need to be done to ELIMINATE short internal  
flights in this country by providing <underline>highspeed</underline></italic></bold> <bold><italic>rail links,  
including direct links between airport terminals. 



</italic></bold>> House of Commons Transport Select Committee 

> Inquiry into "The Future of Aviation" 

>  

> The House of Commons Transport Select Committee has been 
holding an inquiry 

> into "The Future of Aviation" since November last year, the terms 
of 

> reference for which can be found at 

> 
www.parliament.uk/parliament_committees/transport_committee/tc
221102.cmf via 

> the Parliament website. 

> The Committee has decided that it should deal with the problem 
of aircraft 

> noise and environmental pollution separately from the 
mainstream of the 

> inquiry and has asked The Academy to submit evidence on the 
subject. 

> In particular, the Committee would like to hear  what Fellows 
consider the 

> future trends in aircraft design are and how these might impact 
on forecasts 

> of environmental damage. This is in particular reference to noise 
on 

> take-off and approach, and fuel consumption. It would be helpful if 
you 

> could indicate what you believe the key drivers are for 
improvements and 

> whether these conflict with commercial goals. The Committee 
would also be 

> interested on your views on likely timescales for new 
technologies to be 

> introduced and to achieve significant market penetration. Local 
air quality 

> around airports is also a consideration and the Committee would 
also be 

> interested to hear you views on this subject. 

> I would be pleased to receive your comments by Friday 28th 
March, or sooner 

> if possible via e-mail to responses@raeng.co.uk. Should you be 
unable to 

> respond, for whatever reason, I would like to thank you for 
considering this 

> request. 

>  

> Richard Ploszek 

> Assistant Manager, Enginering Policy 



<color><param>0100,0100,0100</param>------- End of forwarded message -------

<nofill>
Professor B. E. Launder, FRS, FREng
MAME Department,
UMIST, PO Box 88,
Manchester M60 1QD, UK

Telephone: 0161-200-3701
Fax : 0161-200-3723
</x-rich>
