The Role of Air Traffic Control in Improving Aviation’s Environmental Performance

Abstract

With aviation under increasing pressure in terms of its environmental performance, more efficient use of airspace can deliver significant benefits in terms of reducing fuel burn and emissions. Air Traffic Control has a major role to play, working with airlines, airports and manufacturers to optimise the whole flight process to identify better ways of operating. NATS was the first Air Navigation Services Provider (ANSP) to benchmark its environmental performance and this chapter will explore how ANSPs can, through benchmarking, identify ways to deliver better flight profiles, procedures and routings to reduce airline fuel burn and emissions. Air traffic controller assistance tools, airspace designs and even corporate culture all have a part to play and this chapter will describe how these can be harnessed to secure a more sustainable future for the global air transportation system.