subject: Breaking Ground Support Equipment Sustainability News In Canada And The Us [print this page] It may surprise you to learn that Canadas aviation industry is not, at first glance, a major cause of ground level air pollution in the country. Nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and fine particulate matter are more likely to come from road transportation, industry and wood heating, etc. But thats not to say that our airports dont have a role to play in protecting air quality at the local level. They do. According to Canadian Aviation and Greenhouses Gases, a 2007 review of the literature: overall airport activity, including ground support equipment (passenger buses, fuel trucks, tugs, tractors, etc.) does impact local air quality. That explains why so many Canadian airports and airlines have committed to reducing the emissions that arise from ground fleets. Here are some examples of recent efforts.
Kits that convert gas-powered ground support equipment to rechargeable lithium batteries
On Sunday, April 22, 2012 (Earth Day), Canadian economy airline WestJet went public with the news that it had tested new lithium battery-powered ground support equipment tugs at the Calgary airport over the winter.
Calgary represents an ideal testing ground for new ground support equipment technology, because of its low temperatures during the winter. According to WestJet, the revamped equipment performed well, even in cold winter conditions.
The company behind this new ground support equipment technology, British Columbia-based Corvus, has said that cleaner technology will improve working conditions for ground crew and passengers.
US Department of Energy (DOE) to invest up to $2.5 million in new ground support equipment technology
In the wake of Earth Day, on Thursday, April 26, the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced plans to invest in a demonstration and deployment project for fuel-cell-electric ground support equipment at commercial airports.
3. Encourage the development of clean technologies in the US.
American airports and airlines are fortunate in that they can apply federally for funding to support ground support equipment conversion projects. Programs such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) Program serve as an incentive for the industry to embrace new, cleaner technologies quickly.
Ongoing efforts to reduce emissions associated with ground support equipment at the Philadelphia International Airport
Efforts are still underway at Philadelphia International Airport to purchase 200 new pieces of electric ground support equipment by the end of 2012.
Hundreds of charging stations have been installed throughout the airport to accommodate the electrification of its ground support equipment fleet, with the goal of reducing such emissions as:
nitrogen oxides
volatile organic compounds
fine particles
etc.
The Canadian and American aviation industry is clearly taking steps to render its ground support equipment technology more eco-friendly. Bravo!
