8.9.2009
Green take-offs at Copenhagen Airport reduce CO2 emissions by 32,000 tonnes

Every day, hundreds of flights are given permission to deviate from standard procedure and instead perform a so-called “green take-off” when they leave Copenhagen Airport. The aircraft climb continuously to their optimal operating level and turn onto the planned route earlier than normal. This saves both time and fuel while also reducing CO2 emissions.

When 15,000 delegates from all over the world fly home after the UN climate conference in Copenhagen, most of them will be onboard a flight that takes off from Copenhagen by climbing quickly and flying directly to its optimal operating level and route.

This saves fuel and reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, compared with conventional take-off procedures involving a gradual climb and following standard routes. On an annual basis, employing this procedure means that aircraft taking off from Copenhagen Airport save some 10,000 tonnes of fuel and several million Danish kroner while also cutting CO2 emissions by almost 32,000 tonnes. These are the results of data analysis by Eurocontrol, the European organisation of air traffic management services.

Much greater environmental benefits
“Climate and environmental impact are on the agenda in the aviation industry, including a focus on so-called ‘green landing’, a procedure that allows the aircraft to glide down slowly before touching down. We also use this technique at Copenhagen Airport, but the environmental benefits are much greater from ‘green take-offs’, which the airlines say save three to five times as much on CO2 emissions,” said Henrik Peter Jørgensen, VP for Communications at Copenhagen Airports A/S.

Naviair, the organisation responsible for air traffic management services in Danish airspace, permits 95% of all aircraft taking off from Copenhagen Airport to climb continuously to a fuel-economical level – in industry-speak called a ‘continued-climb departure’ – and also gives the aircraft permission to turn onto the planned route at an earlier point than was previously the practice.

Lower CO2 emissions
Eurocontrol has conducted a number of computer simulations which show that the Naviair concept of continuous climb during take-off saves an average of 200 kilos of fuel per departure. This corresponds to a reduction of approximately 620 kilos of CO2 plus lower emissions of a number of other environmentally harmful compounds such as NOX.

“We consider it very positive that the Naviair air traffic controllers have developed a unique concept for take-offs from Copenhagen Airport. Our simulations document that it results in quite substantial fuel savings and thus also a reduced environmental impact. We can only support the air traffic management companies in individually developing the best and most efficient solutions for their particular areas," said Andrew Watt of Eurocontrol.

Unique location makes rapid climb possible
This deviation from the standard procedure is possible because of Copenhagen Airport’s location on the Øresund strait, with water on three sides. Most other European airports have urban areas on several sides, which makes it necessary for them to employ mainly a few well-defined take-off routes and allow aircraft to climb only gradually to various flying levels.

“That we have the option of using ‘green take-offs’ is a result of Copenhagen Airport’s unique location. But extensive use of the procedure is a deliberate choice by the air traffic management service and the airport, to handle traffic in a very flexible manner and with as little environmental impact as possible without compromising safety,” said Naviair Director Morten Dambæk.

Saving time and fuel
In addition to fuel and CO2, green take-offs also save time for the airlines and passengers. When it comes to time efficiency in take-off procedures, Copenhagen Airport is surpassed by only two European airports: Prague and Lisbon, both of which have far fewer take-offs than Copenhagen.

At Navair, the take-off concept is just one of many initiatives that have been introduced to reduce the environmental impact of aviation and to improve conditions for air traffic.

“We have presumably already achieved optimal conditions with respect to green take-offs, but we are working constantly on improving our services, and the next specific initiative will be the establishment of five new so-called waypoints which reduce the length of the aircraft approach and thus also result in lower fuel consumption. We also generally follow a ‘Green Direct’ approach, always trying to give aircraft the most direct route to their destinations,” said Dambæk.