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The French aerospace industry takes up the challenge of building an air transport sector with increasing concern for the environment

The French aerospace industry takes up the challenge of building an air transport sector with increasing concern for the environment Aviation has been continuously committed to technological innovation and progress since its beginnings. Seeking to reduce the environmental impact of air transport is a natural part of this initiative.
Conscious that the environmental approach is becoming an increasingly important concern for the industry, Gifas is strongly committed to this area. The Gifas Environment and Sustainable Development Commission assists and supports members. Environmental issues are also central to the work of a joint working group involving the Technical Affairs Committee and the Environment and Sustainable Development Commission.

Series of Gifas press briefings on the major environmental challenges facing the aerospace sector

June 2010 - Environmental challenges according Airbus and ATR

A new press briefing was organized by Gifas, in Toulouse, on wednesday 23 june at Airbus and ATR, attended by more than 30 journalists from the environemnt and aviation press.

ATR : presentation by Carmine Orsi, VP Engineering (photo AERO3A)

This meeting was focused on "the Airbus and ATR environmental approach concerning all the steps of the complete life cycle of an aircraft".
To illustrate the purpose, Airbus presented the new future A 350 XWB eco-efficient assembly line site under construction.

AIRBUS : visit of the A350 assembly line hall under construction (photo AERO3A)

Présentation d'ATR : Cycle de vie et environnement par Carmine ORSI, Vice-president Engineering (in French only)

November 2009 - Eurocopter and the Bluecopter: the “greening“ of helicopters

A third Gifas press briefing, on the theme of the helicopter’s role in an eco-responsible environment, was organized on Monday 9 November at Eurocopter, attended by about twenty journalists from the environment and aviation press.
Against a backdrop of European regulations, sustainable development and competitive forecasts, Eurocopter has put in place a strong environmental policy affecting both its helicopters and manufacturing facilities.

Lutz BERTLING,
CEO of Eurocopter

Eurocopter and the Environnement - "Ensuring that the helicopter remains man’s best friend", by Dominique Orbec, Vice President Market Development
High compression engines (HCE) for helicopters, byChristian MERCIER, Research & Development Manager
The helicopter - a ressource that benefits the environment, by Jean-Pierre BRASSLER, Marketing Manager
Eurocopter's Environmental commitment (Press release in French only)

Présentation of Eurocopter (Press release in French only)

June 2009 - Aircraft deconstruction and technological developments in eco-design

A second meeting was organized with Airbus, Tarmac Aerosave, Snecma, Sita, Dassault Aviation and ATR at Tarmac Aerosave in Tarbes, and at Dassault Aviation at Bordeaux-Mérignac, on Wednesday 27 May, on the subject of aircraft deconstruction and technological developments in eco-design.
Sixty journalists participated in this trip aboard an ATR 72-500 which took off from Le Bourget Airport. A presentation of the aircraft manufacturer was made in flight on the theme of the efficiency of ATRs combining environmental friendliness and fuel economy.
The media were very interested in Tarmac Aerosave's presentation on the storage, light maintenance and deconstruction of aircraft.
Finally, Dassault Aviation highlighted the environmental priorities put in place at their Mérignac site and how the company is developing technology for greener business aviation."

Presentation of ATR (in French only), an aircraft manufacturer that sets an example in terms of the environment, on the regional aircraft market, by press attaché David Vargas
Presentationof Tarmac Aerosave in French only), by Philippe Fournadet, CEO
Developing technology for greener business aviation,talk by Bruno Stoufflet, Director, Forward Planning

April 2009 - Engines of the future and alternative fuels: first meeting at Snecma Villaroche

As part of an awareness and information programme focusing on the aerospace industry's efforts and progress in terms of the environment and sustainable development, Gifas is organizing a number of meetings this year. They will take the form of company visits based on the key issues of propulsion systems, aerodynamics, air traffic control, space, and aircraft building and deconstruction.
First meeting at Snecma on the new engines and alternative fuels:

Introduction to the major environmental issues affecting the aerospace sector (in French only), by Patrick Monclar Président du Comité Technique du GIFAS.

Engines of the future (part two), by Jacques Renvier, Deputy Technical Director, Snecma

Engines of the future (part two),by Francis Couillard, Director of Environmental Affairs, Snecma

Alternative fuels (in French only), by Paul Kuentzmann, Senior Scientific Adviser to the CHaut Conseiller scientifique auprès du Président de ONERA

April 2009 - The French aerospace industry and the environment

Aviation has been continuously committed to technological innovation and progress since its beginnings. Seeking to reduce the environmental impact of air transport is a natural part of this initiative.
Considerable advances have already been made and the aviation sector's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions has been kept below 3% of the global total.

The aerospace industry is looking to technology to shape the aircraft of the future, aircraft that will be even cleaner and quieter and use less fuel, preparing for the technological changes of the future by exploring new avenues: advanced aerodynamics, acoustics, propulsion system concepts, avionics, more electrical systems, etc.

Thanks to the efforts focusing simultaneously on propulsion systems, aircraft weight and shape, as well as optimized flight and trajectory management, kerosene consumption (expressed as kg/km/passenger) has been reduced by a factor of almost five in fifty years. The average fuel consumption of the A380 is approximately 3 litres/passenger/100km, resulting in a proportionate reduction in CO2 emissions.

july 2008 - Mr Bussereau launches French civil aviation research council, CORAC

Besides Gifas, the CORAC includes Airbus, Dassault Aviation, EADS, Safran, Thales, ADP, Air France, the French airports association (UAF), the French commercial aviation federation (FNAM) and representatives from the Ministries of Research, Industry and Defence. Similar in function to the European ACARE, the French civil aviation research council was established by the agreement signed with the French government at the latter’s Grenelle Environment Forum on 28 January 2008.

Read the press release : in French only

Anne.bondiou-clergerie@gifas.asso.fr

REACh guidelines, helping companies ensure compliance

The new European REACh regulations on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals require compliance by manufacturers, importers and users of chemical substances operating within the European Union. For help on how to adapt to the new legislation, consult the REACh interpretation guidelines. To evaluate your level of compliance, use the REACh self-assessment tool.

February 2008 - Official launch of the Clean Sky programme

The ceremony took place in Brussels on Monday 5 February. The guests of honour were Mr Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Science and Research, Mr Åke Svensson, Chairman of the ASD, and Mr Marc Ventre, Chairman of the Aerospace Propulsion Division of Safran and Chairman of the provisional Clean Sky Executive Committee. Mr Charles Edelstenne, Chairman & CEO of Dassault Aviation and Gifas Chairman, attended the event along with a large number of French and European manufacturers.
The aim of this wide-reaching technological research programmeis to lessen the impact of air transport on the environment by developing technologies that will reduce noise, CO2/NOx emissions and fuel consumption for the next generation of aircraft.
The Clean Sky programme is based on the quantitative environmental objectives set by the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE). ACARE's objectives for2020 include a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions through a substantial reduction in fuel consumption, an 80% reduction in NOx emissions and a 50% reduction in external noise. They also include eco-friendly product lifecycle design, covering manufacture, maintenance and end-of-life disposal.

To find out more:
Présentation of the CLEAN SKYprogramme (document GIFAS)
Air transport & Environment (document GIFAS)
ASD press release

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