There is increasing concern over the environmental impacts arising from pollutants emitted by aircraft engine exhausts.  These emissions can:

• affect local or regional air quality;
• affect the earth’s climate directly, e.g. carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, or indirectly through modification of processes involved in the climate system, e.g. cloud formation;
• lead to ozone production or destruction (depending on the altitude of the emissions).

Our expertise 

The CAA is able to give advice on the latest research and requirements for compliance with regulatory guidelines. We have the expertise to estimate the differences in CO₂ emissions and fuel burn resulting from a change in flight procedure. This type of analysis can for instance be used for the environmental assessment of an airspace change.

Further information

More information on the different types of emissions and their impacts on local air quality and climate change.