The aviation industry has initiated a bold pledge to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in half by 2050 compared to 2005 levels of 1910 metric tonnes. Aviation leaders have also committed to improving carbon dioxide efficiency by an average 1.5 per cent per annum through 2020, and make all industry growth carbon-neutral.
This has resulted in a green technology race among aircraft manufacturers, and a call for action by committed airline operators. GE has stepped up the momentum in this ‘fly green’ initiative, having already introduced its Flight Management System (FMS), an ecomagination solution that assists commercial aircraft to fly more optimum trajectories that result in fuel saving efficiencies. Ecomagination is GE’s corporate initiative to imagine, build and deliver innovative solutions that solve today’s environmental challenges and benefit customers and society at large. GE’s capabilities in meeting the bigger goals of the aviation industry were underscored when the Federal Aviation Administration program recently announced that GE Aviation has been picked to demonstrate technologies that meet the ‘Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN)’ initiative. GE and the FAA have committed to invest a combined total of $66 million in the project over five years. Among leading ecomagination products that make a difference to the aviation industry by assisting in reducing the carbon footprint is GE’s GEnx engine, which is 15 per cent more energy efficient, significantly quieter and has lower emissions. In the Middle East region, Qatar Airways has selected the GEnx engine to power the airline’s new fleet of 60 Airbus A350 aircraft, while Royal Jordanian has agreed to purchase six GEnx-1B engines to power its three additional Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, this year. This new order is in addition to the four purchased and four leased GEnx-1B-powered Boeing 787 aircraft that Royal Jordanian announced in 2007. As part of its ecomagination commitment to the region, the GE90-115B – the world’s most powerful jet engine – already powers the Boeing B777-300 ERs of Emirates and Etihad Airways. This year, Etihad also finalized its purchase of 70 GEnx-1B engines to power the 35 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft along with a multi-year OnPoint solution services agreement on the engines, while Emirates ordered 30 GE90-115B-powered Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Emirates signed a 12-year OnPointSM solution services agreement for the maintenance and overhaul of its GE90-115B engines over its life. Even as efforts to manage greenhouse gas emissions and improve efficiency are ongoing, GE is also investing in electric power systems for airplanes, which, although in its early stages, holds great promise for the airline industry. Electric-powered airplanes are cleaner and quieter than conventional planes. Investments are being made for research and development resources to innovate in this new space, with GE joining hands with University of Dayton on the technology behind electric flight. The aviation sector in the Middle East is poised for a quantum growth with new airport infrastructure coming on line and regional airlines adding to their fleet strength. GE Aviation will be an ideal partner for the region in meeting their carbon footprint reduction goals.
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