Sustainable Aviation (SA) has launched a Continuous Descent Operations (CDO) campaign. SA, the voluntary coalition of industry partners launched the campaign with the aim of achieving a 5% increase in CDOs across the UK.
CDO is a technique used in aircrafts to reduce fuel burning, noise and emissions that cause environmental pollution. As the founder of SA, NATS is given the mandate to lead the project, and will have the Air Navigation Services Provider (ANSP) joining them together with other SA members including airlines, aeroscope manufacturers and airports to jointly help make a step ahead in the performance of the CDO.
These operations will, for the first time, have the CDO from higher altitudes monitored while considering aircraft descent profiles form cruise to ground to ensure less fuel is consumed thereby reducing the amount of CO2 emissions. Previously, it was only Continuous Decent Approaches that were looked at, which focused on reducing noise when an aircraft is descending below 6000ft.
Achieving a 5% increase in CDOs across the UK will mean delivery of over 30,000 individual quieter arrivals while saving over 10,000 tonnes of CO2 and also saving costs related to fuel use.
The UK aviation industry already has high achievement records of CDO in most airports. However, the improvement should be consistent throughout the country as well as consider improving descent profiles from higher altitudes.
Sustainable Aviation Council’s Chair, Jonathan Counsell, said the UK Government, the industry regulator and the local community groups had given a plea to the aviation industry to put more effort to control noise impacts. CDO is seen as a sustainable way to curb the issue of noise impacts and therefore will be embraced in all regions of the UK.
The key will be driving the campaign across NATS, airlines and all airports in the UK for the operation to be successful.
By Oliver Derek