Although aviation-related activities result in the emission of pollutants that account for only about 0.5 percent of total air pollution in the United States, these pollutants are among the most prevalent and harmful in the atmosphere and are expected to grow. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expects the demand for air travel in the United States to recover from the events of September 11, 2001, and then continue a long-term trend of 3.6 percent annual growth. This expected growth has heightened concerns among some communities, environmental groups, and others that airport operations will have an increasingly detrimental effect upon the environment. Although, to date, these groups have focused primarily on the noise generated by aircraft operations, they are becoming increasingly concerned about aviations impact on air quality. Our August 2000 report found that the operators of the nations 50 busiest airports considered that air quality issues would become a bigger concern and challenge for them in the future than any other environmental issue. Airport operators were particularly mindful of the effects on air quality of the increases in emissions due to airport growth. The emissions of most concern to many airport operators, as well as to many state and local air quality authorities, are nitrogen oxides, which are a primary contributor to the formation of ozone, a major pollutant in many metropolitan areas.


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    Title :

    Aviation and the Environment: Strategic Framework Needed to Address Challenges Posed by Aircraft Emissions


    Publication date :

    2003


    Size :

    80 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English