LFV Annual report 2021 1
L F V 2021 DIRE C T OR S ' REPOR T ENVIR ONMENT A
ND SUS T AINABILITY HIGHER ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS FOR THE ENTIRE AVIATION INDUSTRY Climate change and the resulting tough climate goals leads to high demands on all aviation industry stakeholders. LFV contributes in several areas to create conditions for reduced emissions. With the European Green Deal, the European Commission has created a roadmap whose goal is to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.LFV contributes to Sweden's ability to achieve the global goals set by the UN in Agenda 2030. At the end of the summer of 2021, the UN Climate Panel IPCC published its sixth climate report, which summarised the scientific evidence and explanatory models for global warming. The report describes that it is indisputable that human impact has warmed the atmosphere, the oceans and land surfaces, and that large-scale and rapid changes in the atmosphere have already occurred. They also write that the 1.5-degree target will not be reached unless comprehensive measures are taken to reduce emissions of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases. With the European Green Deal, the European Commission has created a roadmap whose goal is to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. With respect to aviation, the European Commission points out, for example, that transport prices must reflect the environmental impact of the transports. The Green Deal also emphasises that technology, sustainable solutions, and ground-breaking innovation are crucial to achieving the goals. In 2020, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) examined potential solutions. Many climate measures focus on carbon dioxide emissions, but in EASA's compilation all emphasis was placed on aviation's non-CO₂ emissions and the measures that could possibly be brought to the European level to greatly reduce the high-altitude effects of aviation. All industry stakeholders will need to assume a great environmental responsibility. This means, for example, an increased pace in the transition to sustainable aviation fuels, development of the electric aviation of the future, but also requirements on air navigation services and airspace to create conditions for reduced emissions. DEVELOPMENTS IN FUELS Electric or hybrid aircraft are considered an attractive solution to aviation's environmental challenges, but developments face major technical challenges for such aircraft to become competitive. The electric aircraft that first hit the market will be small and have a limited range. Hydrogen aircraft also face technical challenges, but for such aircraft, the infrastructure for manufacturing and distributing fuel is also a major challenge. Unlike electric aircraft, hydrogen aircraft can theoretically have longer range distances, but this results in flights with fewer passengers because the fuel takes 32 up a larger volume of the aircraft. The advantage of hydrogen aircraft is that it can be combined with today's engine technology. Flying with biofuel is possible with today's aircraft and is only limited by fuel production. AIRSPACE MODERNISATION Sweden's airspace is largely outdated and is based on aviation conditions during the 1980s and 1990s. Today, both the requirements and the conditions are different. Analyses of air traffic in Sweden and mapping of current and future needs of airspace users show that there are shortcomings that need to be addressed. LFV runs SWEA, the Sweden Airspace Project. SWEA Phase 1 and Phase 2 are the beginning of an extensive airspace modernisation in Sweden, which will be implemented at the end of 2023 and 2025. The first phases cover the airspace for managing traffic to and from the Stockholm area. An airspace structure developed within SWEA will lead to positive environmental effects through reduced fuel consumption for the air traffic that flies to and from Arlanda. The project has made an assessment of what shorter flight distances, more efficient ascent and descent profiles, and a harmonised speed in the arrival phase would provide. Assuming traffic volumes in 2027/2028 are in line with 2019 volumes, emissions to air are expected to decrease by between 4,000 and 5,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year with SWEA. DESIGN OF THE LOWER AIRSPACE In May 2019, LFV reported on a government assignment that included an in-depth study on the design of Swedish airspace. In May 2019, LFV presented a Government assignment that included an in-depth study of the design of Swedish airspace. The study resulted, among other things, in a proposal for an airspace strategy that can form the basis for assignments to review the airspace. The strategy pointed out, among other things, the need for a review of the lower airspace to ensure that aircraft can fly to the controlled airports in the country in an environmentally efficient manner without pilots having to request to fly in uncontrolled airspace while ensuring accessibility to the Swedish Armed Forces and other airspace users at lower altitudes.