Survey of British attitudes to air travel and its impact on the environment discovers a lack of consistency
Fri 7 Nov 2008 – Another survey of British air travellers shows a familiar pattern of concern by the public over green issues such as climate change and aircraft noise and air pollution but an unwillingness to let it alter their flying habits. The study, commissioned by Camcon Technology and carried out by international research agency YouGov, reveals that almost three-quarters (74%) were worried about the effects yet only 22% admitted the issue had affected the number of flights they took.
According to the study, a small majority (54%) of the 2,023 adults sampled in September were unconcerned by the proposed expansions at Heathrow and other UK airports. In fact, 41% felt that more capacity was required to meet demand.
Of the 46% who expressed apprehension about the development plans, the key causes for concern were:
·Noise pollution (67%)
·Climate change (65%)
·Air quality (60%)
·Effect on house prices in the surrounding area (30%)
Backing up results from other similar surveys, women prove to be bigger ‘eco worriers’ than men with 82% expressing their concern over green issues, compared to 64% of men. More than half (53%) of the women also had doubts about the planned airport expansions, compared to just 39% of men.
Interestingly, it appears the public expect airlines and aircraft manufacturers to do more to protect the environment. Of those who were concerned over the expansion plans, more than three-quarters (77 percent) said they would feel more comfortable if they knew that airlines and aircraft manufacturers were spending money on developing environmentally-friendly planes that burn less fuel and emit less noise.
“To protect the environment, the aviation industry needs to examine the technologies that are now available to reduce carbon emissions and help decrease the noise from engine jets, fans and landing gear,” said Danny Chapchal, CEO of Camcon. “With European Union regulations placing pressure on airlines to cut emissions by 3% in 2012 and airport expansions set to be rolled out across the UK, it’s time that a new generation of quieter and more environmentally-friendly planes was developed.”
Behind Chapchal’s comments is a vested interest in that Camcon is a participant in the Aircraft Noise Disturbance Alleviation by Novel Technology (ANDANTE) consortium, which aims to develop noise reduction concepts for engine and airframe component design.
Cambridge-based Camcon has developed binary actuation technology that has been used in work with other consortium members to investigate active jet noise reduction using micro-jet technology. Tests conducted in January on a 1/10th scale model of a large engine exhaust nozzle in the presence of a flight simulation flow and static running resulted in jet noise reductions of approximately 1.5dB.
The company is funded by Hit & Run, the management team behind the rock group Genesis, and ACUS Managing Partners, an active management venture capitalist that specializes in funding early-stage technology companies.
A PDF copy of the study can be downloaded from the Camcon website.
