A model to estimate CO₂ emissions from air traffic movement in airports

Abstract

The importance of airport emission inventory is more specific in the local context as it directly affects the local air quality. The assessment of emission from different phases of flight separately has not received sufficient attention. The specific gap addressed by this research is evaluating the CO2 emission from different phases of aircraft within the Landing Take-off (LTO) cycle and the CO2 emission from flight delays since they allow initiating more precise emission reduction strategies. Using currently available methodologies for assessing the emission from the LTO cycle in the Sri Lankan context has significant limitations. Industry-wide standards have been found to overestimate actual volumes specific to local conditions. Reviewing current CO2 emission calculation methods related to aeronautical activities within the LTO cycle, developing a model incorporating data specific to local conditions to estimate CO2 emission and estimating additional CO2 emission due to delay and validating the model are the main objectives of this study. The results of the suggested methodology for calculating CO2 emission were compared with the industry standards and actual operational values. The CO2 emission of different phases of flight and the CO2 emission due to delays within the LTO was assessed using the suggested methodology. The suggested methodology shows the unnecessary fuel burn and emissions according to current practices. The outcomes encourage stakeholders to initiate emission reduction methods. This study can be used as a reference when implementing those reduction methods. The suggested methodology can be applied in any airport which has data and technological constraints. The CO2 emission from delays at the taxiing phase has a significant influence on local air quality. The taxiing out phase which is the highest contributor to delays within the LTO should be given the most priority when initiating emission reduction methods.