May 2008 Archives

Daniel Elwell of the US FAA was before the US Congress yesterday to update legislators on progress on cutting emissions. He talked up air traffic management advances, which I think is absolutely right, but rather spoiled the effect with some frankly flaky stuff about how US airlines had cut emissions more than EU carriers. Here is his testimony.

I realise he has to play to his audience, but this really doesn't help advance aviation's cause. No doubt US airlines will cut their emissions a whole lot more than EU carriers in future too - hard not to when you've still got a goodly number of DC-9s rattling around!

Elwell, by the way, is assistant administrator, office of aviation policy, planning and environment. And he was addressing the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's aviation sub-committee. Other parts of the hearing were blogged by Evan Sparks, whose blog I've only just discovered.

In The Guardian today George Monbiot urges the world to investigate the possible use of hydrogen-powered airships for long-haul travel more closely.

There's no doubt it's an interesting area, but a lot of people have been pursuing various airship concepts for quite a while now - including the US Navy in quite a big way - and they haven't made a great deal of progress. Putting speed to one side, there really are some serious operational questions about making this practical.

On the other hand, it is the sort of technology that would benefit from some heavier weight research than it has so far had.

The organisers of last week's Aviation & Environment Summit have now put all the speeches and presentations online. Some very interesting material for everyone.