About Us

Overview

The TRB Aviation Group is composed of nine technical committees that represent communities of individuals who share a common interest and expertise. Each committee proposes research, shares research findings, sponsors special activities, and provides a forum for professionals to discuss today’s and tomorrow’s aviation related transportation issues. Together, the nine committees and the group’s executive board foster and support aviation and airport research designed to help inform and benefit both users and the profession, and provide an open and unparalleled forum to disseminate and examine the results of this research.

Check out the brochure for TRB’s Aviation Group to learn why and how to get involved in TRB aviation-related committee activities. Click here to view the brochure.

The nine technical committees are: aviation administration and policy (AV010); aviation system planning (AV020); environmental issues in aviation (AV030); aviation economics and forecasting (AV040); airport terminals and ground access (AV050); airfield and airspace performance (AV060); aircraft/ airport compatibility (AV070); aviation safety, security and emergency management (AV090); new users of shared airspace (AV095).

Mission Statement

The Committee on Environmental Issues in Aviation examines the reciprocal relationship between the environment and aviation. The environmental issues related to airports and aviation can be quite complex, including impacts from aircraft operating on the ground and in the air, airspace use and interactions, impacts from airport development and operation, the need for hazard mitigation, and other topics. The Committee considers how operations of airports and aviation affect the environment and climate, including impacts on the surrounding population, which often includes communities of color or low income. The Committee also evaluates how the changing climate affects airport infrastructure and operations. The Committee proposes and shares research on how airports, airlines, and other airspace users can limit their impacts to the environment and climate, including surrounding communities, and how they can increase resiliency to sustain operations in the face of climate change.

Emerging Issues

The primary emerging issues influencing environmental issues in aviation and the Committee’s scope in the short term (up to 3 years) are as follows (updated May 2022):

Environmental Justice and Equity: this topic intersects with the other categories, as well as with Committee operations

Climate Change and Sustainability

• Climate change adaptation/resilience planning and design for infrastructure

• Decarbonization

• Net-zero emissions

• Sustainability planning

• Reduction of non-CO2 effects, namely nitrogen oxides and condensation trails during cruise

• Energy resilience

Aviation Air Quality

• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)/alternative fuels impacts on criteria emissions1

• Ultrafine particulate impacts around airports

• Elimination of lead from AvGas

• Engine exhaust plume

Water Resources

• Climate change/design storm guidance and implications

• Stormwater management best management practices

• Green stormwater infrastructure

• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) impacts

Aircraft Noise

• Effects of aircraft noise on individuals and communities

• Noise mitigation

• Noise modeling and monitoring of variety of noise sources, including emerging air vehicles

Sustainable Aviation Fuels

• SAF deployment

• SAF production

• Infrastructure needs

The primary factors expected to influence environmental issues in aviation and the Committee’s scope in the medium term (4 to 7 years), also include:

• Long-term SAF deployment, including new ASTM standards for 100% SAF, either as drop-in or non-drop-in fuels

• Advanced Air Mobility (which includes Uncrewed Aircraft Systems and Urban Air Mobility, or UAS/UAM) integration, environmental issues and impacts, and environmental compliance

• Electrification within aviation (including batteries and energy storage)

• Collaboration with other transportation modes

• Potential environmental issues related to longer-term travel pattern changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic

• Environmental issues pertaining to new trends in aviation policies, planning processes, projects, and programs stemming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Pub. L. 117-58)

The Committee also needs to be aware of and track longer-term issues, including:

• Hydrogen fuel technology, including green v. blue hydrogen and supporting infrastructure

• Sustainability trends, competing and complementary modes (e.g., long-term innovation in surface transport)

• Financial pressures and their relationship to environmental benefits (e.g., airport capital spending, airline fleet upgrades)

• Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)

• U.S. Government Net Zero by 2050 for all GHG emissions, U.S. aviation

To address these emerging issues, the Committee has specific Goals and Strategies. The Committee published its 2022-2025 Triennial Strategic Plan in Spring 2022 that contains this information as well.