A - Problem Justification

Problem Statement/Validation

According to the National Institute of Health, the aviation sector produces the most CO2 out of all the traveling sectors (Khatib, 2023). An average of 102,395 commercial flights fly each day. At cruising speed, each plane in the sky releases an average of 17 mg/hr of CO2. A study by the University of California and Columbia University found that people that live within six miles of airports exhibit higher levels of lung and heart ailments due to CO2 emissions. High amounts of fuel emissions have detrimental environmental and health effects that need to be reduced as air travel becomes increasingly common in the modern day.

Experts

Knowledge gathered from Interview with Delta Pilot Mr. McArdle:

All of the air in the cabin and the cockpit comes from the engine before combustion, so it is not polluted (bleed-air system). It is filtered and cooled before being used in the plane’s air conditioning system. According to Mr. McArdle, pilots usually do not have any concerns with flying an electric or hybrid aircraft as long as it has been certified by the FAA. The FAA regulates aircraft safety, and all aircraft that pass the certification have many backup systems in case an engine system fails while in flight. Most commercial airplanes fly with two engines. Flying with only one engine creates uneven thrust and makes the plane difficult to control.The vast majority of energy and fuel is used in the climb phase, as opposed to the cruise phase or the descent phase. We currently don’t have a strong enough battery to produce enough energy to propel the plane through the climb phase. Any engine that is designed has to be economically viable, meaning that it has to be economically viable for the airline to implement while simultaneously making money for the manufacturers.

Knowledge gathered from Interview with Retired Airline Pilot Mr. Foley

The number one priority for any pilot is safety. The engine must be 100% safe to be implemented within an aircraft. Some prior solutions that have already been implemented include using one engine to taxi, not using full reverse thrust power when landing, and flying the most fuel efficient routes, i.e. flying at appropriate altitudes for wind, aircraft performance and other considerations. Mr. Foley also mentioned new engines already created that are more fuel efficient. For example, the Airbus A321 has two state-of-the-art fuel efficient engines and burns about 40% less fuel than the much older Boeing 727. Additionally, Mr. Foley stated that modern planes are made out of composite materials rather than aluminum, making them lighter, which means they burn less fuel. Finally, Mr. Foley mentioned that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) could be used to reduce emissions, but it can be five times as expensive as traditional jet fuel.

people to contact

Consumer Survey

Scholarly Articles

Is it Unhealthy for You to Live Near an Airport? (ASJ, 2023)

Ultra-fine particulate matter (UFP) is a form of pollution emitted by aircraft that is mostly found closest to airports. This is not regulated, and when inhaled causes a lot of inflammatory responses in the body. Pollution from UFPs causes harm to people, meaning that the concentration of UFPs in the air needs to be reduced.

Cutting Aviation Pollution (World Wildlife Fund, 2010)

Air travel is the most carbon-producing way of travel; there are other pollutants that come out of a jet engine instead of just CO2– showing that this is an issue the whole world is affected by.

Effects of Aircraft Noise Exposure on Heart Rate During Sleep in the Population Living Near Airports (Nassur et al., 2019)

In a 2019 study focusing on 92 participants in France, researchers found that living near airports can cause elevated heart rates during sleep. This can cause sleep quality issues, leading to long term heart, cardiovascular, and cognitive issues. The article shows that there is a real issue with health issues being caused by noise pollution from airports. The article shows that there is a real health issue caused by noise pollution from airports.

Fuel-Efficient Aircraft Designs for the Future (Modic, 2017)

This article examines the morphing mechanics that are being applied to modern aeronautical manufacturing at the University of Michigan. It explains that fuel emissions are expected to double within the next 20 years as air travel becomes more accessible to the public. Researchers are experimenting with composite-material wings that are manufactured to allow the wing-shape to morph in the air and restrict harsh contrasts against airflow that typically require increased engine usage.

NASA Issues Award for Greener, More Fuel-Efficient Airliner of Future (Bardan, 2023)

This article, published by NASA and Boeing presents validity in cutting fuel emissions through the production of the Truss-Braced Wing aircraft, a plane that has narrower wings that reduce the amount of drag and ultimately lessens the amount of fuel usage required to keep the aircraft aloft by nearly 30%. Due to both companies’ recognition in the aerospace and aeronautics industry, the concept brings into consideration simpler designs and easier ways to create fuel reducing results that don’t require mastery of complex engineering.

Citations

ASJ. (2023, March 6). EarthTalk: Is It Unhealthy for You To Live Near an Airport? Adventure Sports Journal. https://adventuresportsjournal.com/living-near-an-airport/

Bardan, R. (2023, January 18). NASA Issues Award for Greener, More Fuel-Efficient Airliner of Future - NASA. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-issues-award-for-greener -more-fuel-efficient-airliner-of-future/

Khatib, A. N. (2023). Climate Change and Travel: Harmonizing to Abate Impact. Current Infectious Disease Reports, 25(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-023-00799-4

Modic, E. E. (2017, June 8). Fuel-efficient aircraft designs for the future. Aerospace Manufacturing and Design. https://www.aerospacemanufacturinganddesign.com/article/fuel -efficient-aircraft-designs-for-the-future/

Nassur, A.-M., Léger, D., Lefèvre, M., Elbaz, M., Mietlicki, F., Nguyen, P., Ribeiro, C., Sineau, M., Laumon, B., & Evrard, A.-S. (2019). Effects of Aircraft Noise Exposure on Heart Rate during Sleep in the Population Living Near Airports. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(2), 269. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph1602 0269

World Wildlife Fund. (2010). Reducing Aviation’s Climate Emissions. World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org/initiatives/ cutting-aviation-pollution

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