Aerospace companies set up group to develop common international understanding on environmental standards
Fri 16 Sept 2011 – Eleven major aerospace companies have come together to form the International Aerospace Environmental Group (IAEG) to help develop industry understanding of global environmental requirements. The group says different laws and regulations impacting health and the environment are in place around the world and the complexity and variability has led to a heavier burden and substantial costs for the supply chain. IAEG will aim to develop voluntary consensus standards addressing environmental concerns and create a forum for dialogue on industry approaches. The group will be administered by automotive and aerospace technical standards organisation SAE International.
The 11 founding members of IAEG are Airbus and parent company EADS, Boeing, Bombardier, Dassault, Embraer, GE Aviation, Northrop Grumman, Rolls-Royce, SAFRAN, United Technologies and Zodiac Aerospace.
“IEAG is a global voice coming from major aerospace industry stakeholders. All members have a genuine objective to work together towards continuously improving the aerospace industry’s approach tocomplying with requirements of environmental regulations worldwide,” said Bruno Costes, IAEG’s Vice Chair and Airbus Director for International Affairs.
“On a broader view, IAEG’s aspiration is to offer a voluntary industry approach, as opposed to multiple individual company approaches, while working alongside other international requirements, such as the European REACH [industry chemicals regulation] programme.”
IAEG describes its aims and aspirations as:
Assisting in developing an industry-wide approach to addressing environmental concerns, including reporting the usage of chemical substances in aerospace equipment and products. This should ultimately allow for a clearer accounting for chemicals used to produce a given aircraft or product;
Through developing a common global approach this should help to drive greater efficiency in the supply chain and ultimately improve information exchange in these areas; and
Serve as a global voice to foster a common understanding of the requirements linked to existing and emerging environmental regulation of the aerospace industry worldwide.
IAEG has been incorporated within the US as a non-stock/non-profit unaffiliated organisation and will be managed by a Board of Directors and anExecutive Committee. Membership is eligible from any aeronautical, space and defence industrial companies.
A dedicated website is expected to be launched within a few months. In the meantime, prospective members should contact Becky DeGutis of SAE International at bdegutis@sae.org