Aviation & the environment

The Statesman , Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Correspondent : Staff Reporter
The government must take immediate measures to control environmental pollution by airplanes, writes NK PANT

Aeroplanes are big polluters of the air we breathe. This fact was sidelined when India joined the world in observing Environment Day on 5 June, shedding a few crocodile tears on the degrading quality of air. The general public forms its opinion on the adverse impact of air pollution by observing petrol- and diesel-driven vehicles leave harmful trails of smoke on the road. But what about the great damage being done by thousands of air turbine fuel (ATF) guzzling aeroplanes that release tonnes hazardous fumes into our biosphere?

Ironically, aircraft and ATF purchased at a staggering cost of billions of dollars from a few industrially advanced countries pollute our air. Like our roads, our skies too are soon going to be congested with flying machines of various types. The number of passenger and freight aircraft flown by private airlines is fast multiplying. Similarly, the Indian Air Force, currently in aircraft acquisition mode, is likely to increase its flying operations in the coming years. This development is going to be a major contributory factor in the destruction of ozone and the accumulation of green house gases in the upper layers of the atmosphere.

It is estimated that one multi-engine passenger aircraft is being added every fortnight to the fleets of India’s domestic carriers that are engaged in cutthroat competition to fly to the remotest corners of the country. Besides, the growing corporate sector, PSUs and state governments have also started operating their own executive jets and helicopters. As a result, the number of aircraft flying the Indian skies has gone up considerably. Here, one must not forget the domain of military aviation ~ Air Force, Army, Navy and the coast guard ~ where more than 1,000 fighter jets, transport planes and helicopters are kept aloft in routinely scheduled day and night flying. As per the estimates, the movement of aircraft in Indian airspace is growing at an annual rate of 15 per cent.

Aviation lowers local air quality, especially in the vicinity of airports. This is quite injurious to the health of inhabitants. An aircraft lands in or takes off from Delhi airport every minute and this is when it leaves behind the maximum quantity of polluting gas in addition to causing extreme noise pollution. Besides, planes from domestic and international airlines that fly in circles over airports while they wait for landing clearance eject hundreds of tonnes of foul fumes into the upper layers of the atmosphere.

Moreover, the large-scale expansion of commercial flying in India has brought in additional risks to air traffic safety. It has endangered not only the lives of passengers but also those of people living in the vicinity of airports. This is corroborated by the unfortunate mid-air collision that took place between two passenger jets over Charkhi Dadri in Haryana nearly a decade ago.

Incidentally, kerosene happens to be the principal component of ATF. It is used as a propellant in modern commercial as well as military aircraft. Like other fossil fuels, kerosene produces carbon dioxide and water vapour on combustion. As the combustion process can not be said to be entirely efficient, carbon monoxide and oxygenated organic compounds ~ that are the products of partial oxidation ~ are emitted into the upper layers of the atmosphere. Hence, the extremely harmful environmental impact of pollutants left behind by aircraft engine exhaust fumes should be a great cause of concern for enlightened citizens.

The two main emissions of airliners and fighter jets are carbon dioxide and water vapour. Combustion engines also emit a combination of nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide as well as aerosols. Because planes fly at high altitudes, the effect of these gases and particles is magnified as they are emitted directly into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, where they have a direct impact on the atmospheric composition and enhance the concentration of greenhouse gases.

Carbon dioxide is considered to be the most significant of greenhouse gases. Studies have proved that it stays in the atmosphere for about 100 years on an average. This means that the harmful effects of carbon dioxide emissions will be faced even by our coming generations. Currently, it is estimated that 6,000 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are released globally into the atmosphere every year.

Another fallout of the increase in the number of aircraft is contrails that are formed by water vapour and aerosol particles. Contrails, which can often be seen from the ground, are the condensation trails left behind by the exhaust fumes of high-flying aircraft. The emissions from aircraft form ice clouds, which can trap, heat and thus upset the radioactive balance of the atmosphere. Satellite images have shown that in areas where there is heavy air traffic, contrails are produced so frequently that they remain in the atmosphere and generate the formation of cirrus clouds. Both the cirrus clouds and contrails contribute to climate change. They could cause natural disasters and adversely affect human health.

The government, instead of paying mere lip service to anti-pollution activities, should take proactive steps to frame a comprehensive environment policy for India that will also address citizens’ apprehensions regarding the harmful effects of the increase in the number of aircraft in Indian skies as well as in the skies above the adjoining nations. The increasing menace of climate change and global warming caused by rapidly growing commercial and combat flying needs, has to be tackled on a war footing and India must not shy away from seeking international assistance in this regard. The USA, the UK, France and Russia are major manufacturers of airliners, military aircraft and aero-engines. Collaborating with these technologically advanced nations could stem the further degradation of the earth’s atmosphere and save coming generations from catastrophic consequences.

(The author is a retired Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force.)

 
SOURCE : The Statesman, Wednesday, June 14, 2006
 


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