A new technique introduced at Birmingham Airport last year to cut noise and fuel consumption has saved over 13,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the last 12 months. That’s enough to fill Wembley Stadium one and a half times.
The technique called Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) allows aircraft to make a smooth approach to the airport without levelling off, which means they use less fuel than the traditional stepped descent.
One year since its launch, 95% of aircraft arriving at Birmingham use CDAs, making a saving per flight of around 315kg of CO2, 100kg of fuel and reducing the noise around the airport by between one and five decibels per arrival, said the airport.
The use of CDAs at Birmingham is as a result of a partnership between the airport, the air traffic control provider NATS and airlines.
NATS operations and training manager Paul Waite said: “Although CDAs are being used at a number of other UK airports, Birmingham is one of the most successful airports using the scheme, and I am proud to say that our team of controllers is exceeding targets every month."
Birmingham Airport’s work on CDAs forms part of a national “Sustainable Aviation” initiative set up by the air industry to work together to improve environmental performance to reduce noise and emissions.
By Linsey McNeill
