Now European planemaker ATR details how it plans to reach its goals?
1. ATR aircraft are already the most eco-efficient regional aircraft on the market which helps make them sustainable and affordable with unbeatable fuel efficiency. The turboprop engine technology requires less power, meaning less fuel, to propel the aircraft than a turbojet. The ATR 72-600 has a fuel consumption of 2.8L / 100km per seat, and that it emits 40% less CO2 than a similarly sized regional jet. ATR are constantly developing incremental solutions that can improve operational efficiency, through system upgrades, weight reductions, new materials and state-of-art avionics.
ATR aircraft are certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to meet the most stringent noise emission standards set out by ICAO Chapter 14. They produce less noise than turbojets at take-off and landing, and the overall noise levels of ATR 42s and ATR 72s are respectively 14dB and 9dB below the required threshold.
For all of these reasons, in 2019, the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating agency Vigeo Eiris has recognised ATR as compliant with Green Bond and Green Loan Principles, and their aircraft were the first to become eligible for Green Financing.
2. Implementing a low carbon strategy
The scientific community is unanimous: to avoid catastrophic consequences due to climate change, such as rising waters or more frequent extreme meteorological events, we need to maintain global warming to at a level that does not exceed +2°C by 2100 compared to pre-industrial levels.
To contribute to this global CO2 reduction objective, which is in line with the 2015 Paris agreement, at ATR they are working with sustainability experts from ECOACT, to set out greenhouse gas emission reduction targets using the Science-Based Target Initiative (SBTi).
The SBTi is a partnership between CDP – a non-profit charity supporting both private and public organisations in managing their environmental impact – the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
ATR say it has already started its journey focusing on onsite activities, mainly targeting energy consumption, for instance, the company renovated its facilities to enable energy efficiencies, modernised its fleet of service vehicles, switched to renewable energy, and implemented a transport plan for employees, to minimise the use of single-occupancy vehicles for home-work travels.
The goal ATR is working to is to halve its direct greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2018, and are working to determine the appropriate targets to reduce indirect emissions.
3. ISO 14001 certification holders
Sustainability is in the DNA of ATR the company says, "From our products to our corporate values. Our employees are deeply involved in making sure we continue to connect people and businesses responsibly. Our environmental objectives are cascaded throughout the whole company. We have a robust Environmental Management System, and have been improving our environmental performance throughout the years, for both onsite activities and products. We are very proud to hold a ISO14001 certification, which is essential to meet the expectations of our internal and external stakeholders."
4. Commitment to increasing the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a key pillar of the decarbonisation strategy of ATR, its aircraft are certified to fly with 50% SAF, and the firm aims to improve this certification to 100%, anticipating future regulatory requirements. It also has a short-term ambition to perform all of our test flights with SAF.
"We collaborated on the first regional aviation “Perfect Flight” in Sweden. Sustainable aviation fuel was used to power an ATR 72-600, and every element of the flight management process was optimised to keep carbon emissions to a minimum, resulting in a 46% reduction of emissions compared to a traditional flight.
With no impact on operations or safety, SAF can help achieve a CO2 reduction of up to 80% across the entire lifecycle, compared to traditional fuel. Whilst disruptive technologies are being explored, with a target for entry into service that goes beyond 2030, SAF is the best solution for the entire industry to reduce emissions before this longer-term target.
However, the challenge is for the industry to produce enough SAF at an affordable price – as today, some SAFs are 4 to 9 times more expensive than traditional fuel."
Sustainable aviation cannot be achieved alone, and ATR works with partners, customers, and all industry stakeholders to support a greater production of SAF, in order for them to continue to connect people and businesses responsibly.
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