AVIATION -ENVIRONMENTAL OBLIGATIONS

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On this post, which is more of a follow up on the impact of Aviation pollution, we will be discussing the impact of noise pollution and the obligations of the aviation industry on the Planet. The blog is with a particular interest on the obligations of Nigerian airline operators.

IMPACT ON AIR FROM NOISE

Civil aviation is a critical element in Nigeria’s transportation system and indeed it's economy. Nigeria has 20 airports and many regulated airstrips and heliports; Nigeria, being Africa’s most populous country is an important destination for over 22 foreign carriers. 

Nigeria currently has bilateral Air services agreements with over 78 countries. With the attainment of America’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), International Aviation Safety Management (IASA) Category One Certification, Nigerian registered carriers can now fly directly into the United States of America (USA).

Since the awareness of the international community, especially the related SGD's, the aviation industry has taken flak for its growing greenhouse gas emissions as passengers numbers rise.

But could its massive waste footprint be solved without affecting the sector’s growth? Demand for air transport is continually growing and, if this demand is to be met with all the attendant benefits, society must also accept the costs (noise, pollution, climate change, risk, resource use etc).

Aviation owes different kinds of environmental obligations, ranging from noise, air, water, and climate.

Noise, which can be defined as any unwanted sound can cause profound negative effects on humans’ health and their physical, psychological and social wellbeing and quality of life. Since the emergence of the aviation industry, aircraft noise has been one of the most important sources of excessive noise generated by human activities. Two sources of aircraft noise are the engines, which include two major types of jet and piston engines, and the aircraft frame.

You probably know about the waste problem in our oceans, but how about the ones in our skies? You might have heard about the “save our planet” campaign. This is in a bid to ensure that our generations to come can still enjoy the benefits of the earth as we did.

PROVISIONS IN NIGERIAN LEGISLATION

Part XV of the Civil Aviation Act grants the Nigeria Civil Aviation authority powers to make rules that deal with public health. Thus, the environmental obligations applicable to air carriers in Nigeria are provided for in part 15 of the regulations. 


 It provides for noise standards for the issue of noise certificates, fuel venting standards for the issue of fuel venting certificates and emission standards for the issue of emission certificates. This regulation applies to all aircraft registered and operating in Nigeria and certification will be granted or validated by the authority for an aircraft on the basis of satisfactory evidence that the aircraft complies with requirements stipulated in the regulations.

The Harmful Waste (Special Criminal Provisions) Act, Cap H1, LFN 2004; makes illegal and unlawful, the dumping of harmful waste in the air, land or waters of Nigeria. Prohibits and criminalizes unauthorized transportation, depositing or dumping of harmful waste on any land, territorial waters, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone, or inland waterways of Nigeria.

Despite all the legal framework, the environment is still on the receiving end of aviation transportation. Noise has historically been the principal environmental issue for aviation. It remains high on the agenda of public concern. It is quite difficult to evaluate, as it is open to subjective reactions. It is arguable that its impacts are not a lasting one on the actual environment, but it can have significant adverse effects on people living close to an airport, including interference with communication, sleep disturbance, annoyance responses, learning acquisition, performance effects and cardiovascular and psycho-physiological effects.

Unless there are very many aircraft following a route, it is widely recognised that aircraft flying at a height of at least 10,000ft above the ground do not usually produce “significant” noise impact. But because of the subjective nature of disturbance and the wide variance of local factors, this is not an absolute rule. It is normal for aircraft noise to be associated with airports, because of the low height involved.

All commercial aircraft must meet the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO's) noise certification standards. These apply to aircraft designs and types when they are first approved for operational use, and they have been progressively tightened since the initial standard was adopted in 1971.

The environmental impact of aviation occurs because aircraft engines emit heat, noise, particles, and gases which contributes to climate change and global dimming. Airplanes emit particles and gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), water vapor, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, lead and black carbon which interact among themselves and with the atmosphere. Despite emission reductions from automobiles and more fuel-efficient and less polluting turbofan and turboprop engines, the rapid growth of air travels in the past years contributes to an increase in total pollution attributable to aviation.

The 33rd ICAO Assembly adopted Resolution A33/7 introducing the concept of a ‘balanced approach’ to noise management, thereby establishing a policy approach to address aircraft noise. The ‘balanced approach’ concept of aircraft noise management comprises four principal elements and requires careful assessment of all different options to mitigate noise, including:

·         reduction of aircraft noise at source;

·         land-use planning and management measures;

·         noise abatement operational procedures; and,

·         operating restrictions.

The Balanced Approach has since been incorporated into the European Community legislation as Directive EC/2002/30).

Other commonly applied noise management measures include:

·         depicting preferred noise routes on a map that avoid residential areas as far as possible;

·         avoiding over-flying sensitive sites such as hospitals and schools;

·         ensuring that the optimum runway(s) and routes are used as far as conditions allow;

·         using continuous descent approaches and departure noise abatement techniques;

·         avoiding unnecessary use of auxiliary power units by aircraft on-stand;

·         building barriers and engine test-pens to contain and deflect noise;

·         towing aircraft instead of using jet engines to taxi;

·         limiting night operations;

·         limiting the number of operations or the extent of a critical noise contour;

·         providing noise insulation for the most severely affected houses;

·         applying different operational charges based on the noisiness of the aircraft;

·         monitoring individual noise levels and penalising any breach.

  In the view of the fact that aircraft produces more noise during take-off and landing, airports are considered to be important contributors to the problem of excessive noise, and from a community’s perspective, one of the most obvious environmental problems of airport activities are noise pollution. In addition, noise generated by ground access systems in the airport landside area adds to the already existing problem of excessive noise in airports. With respect to the problem of excessive noise in the vicinity of airports, the airport operator need to reduce aircraft noise emissions, reduce the number of people exposed to excessive noise levels, and finally help the local community receive the airport’s plans and activities. Solutions such as urban planning, applying new technologies and designs, and restricting operation of particular aircraft types, frequency of flights and night-time flights, planning and managing land use, and redistributing noise by managing runways and routes use are some of the mitigative measures employed to meet noise quotas and prescribed limits. 

Do you agree that Nigerian operators have a role to play to reduce environmental pollution?

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