MUMBAI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is planning to establish an aviation climate change task force to assess carbon emissions, monitor data collection from airports and chart out measures to deal with climate change.
In a recent circular, director-general Arun Mishra said airlines will have to set an aviation environment cell dedicated to reducing emissions and collating data.
Though major airports have been collecting data on emissions and submitting it to the aviation regulator, the circular dated June 13 seeks to streamline collection, analyze information and take action, said Mumbai airport officials. The task force will comprise various stakeholders, including officials from the DGCA, airlines, airports and engineers. "Its primary objective will be to create policies and rules for improvement in fuel efficiency, reduction of emissions from airport functions and ground operations."
The circular states that all airlines with more than 50,000 movements per year will set up an environment cell. "This means that all major airlines, like Air India and Jet airways, and even low-cost carriers will have to comply with the order," said an airport official. "This would enhance environmental accountability on part of airlines, if the move is implemented properly," he added.
Currently, all major airports, including Mumbai airport, collate data provided by airlines and send it to the DGCA headquarters. "The DGCA is still at the collection stage. Dedicating manpower for emissions is a way to reach a stage where policies are made to curb emissions," said a regional DGCA official.
The circular makes it mandatory for airlines to furnish data on the fuel consumed by an aircraft's main engine and ancillary power units. With growing concern over climate change, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has made it mandatory for every country to monitor emissions from the aviation sector and take measures to curb them.
ROLE OF AVIATION CLIMATE TASK FORCE
• Assess trends in carbon emissions
• Facilitate emission data collection from airlines and airports and its analysis.
• Come up with initiatives to improve fuel efficiency, reduction of emissions from airport functions and ground operations.
• Ensure that all airlines have an aviation environment cell.
