Airports and the environment: How can airports be more eco-friendly?
Airports and the environment: How can airports be more eco-friendly?
Airports are one of the most important aspects of any country’s infrastructure. Not only do airports provide a hub for air travel, but they also boost the economy of the local area. However, as with any major industry, airports can have a lasting impact on their surrounding environment. Minimising the environmental damage done, both in the construction and the management of airports, should be a key concern of all aviation managers.
Let’s take a look at how airports damage the environment, and how good Air Traffic Management can help to minimise these impacts on the world around us.
How do airports impact the environment?
Airports can have a serious impact on both the local and the global environment. Significant damage can be caused to a local ecosystem when ground is cleared to make way for new terminals and runways, and of course, over time all airports will cause a significant amount of noise and air pollution while burning large amounts of fossil fuels.
While it’s the responsibility of the aviation industry to investigate new fuel technologies, they can also use existing technologies to streamline working practices and make meaningful reductions in fuel wastage and noise pollution today.
How technology can help
One of the most important changes that airports can make to reduce their impact on the environment today is in Air Traffic Management.
Air Traffic Management is one of the primary areas where technology can help to reduce noise and fuel emissions, as improvements in this area will have a direct impact on how efficiently planes are managed, reducing fuel waste and enabling air traffic experts to manage flights in a way that reduces noise pollution at certain times of the day.
In Europe, airports are already using satellite-based navigation systems to improve aircraft spacing between takeoffs and landings, reducing air traffic delays and fuel wastage that would otherwise be caused by congestion.
What policymakers need to know
When creating airport management policies, aviation leaders should factor in the use of modern technologies, including those utilised by Air Traffic Management teams, to minimise the impact on the environment. Systems include:
– Air Traffic Management Automation Systems
– Vessel Traffic Management Systems
– Electronic Flight Strips
– General Information Monitoring Systems
– Departure/Arrival Manager Systems
– Remote Control Towers
These can all help air traffic management teams to make smarter, safer decisions that will reduce their impact on the environment in significant and meaningful ways.
What we do at Bayanat
At Bayanat, we are experts in aviation technology. From Air Traffic Management systems to surveillance, weather management and navigation, our tech solutions for the aviation industry can help your airport to run efficiently and cleanly. Advanced technology can help airports to improve the customer experience for passengers and travellers, make airports a safer place to be for everyone, and minimise the damage caused by aeroplanes on the environment around us.
To find out more about how Bayanat can help your airport to improve its services while saving money in the long term, get in touch with us today.