Air quality

The issue: Air quality is an issue of concern both locally and nationally. Aircraft, and road vehicles at and around our airport emit a number of pollutants, particularly nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particles (PM10) which impact on human health and the environment

The EU Air Quality Framework Directive requires member states, including the UK, to stay within set limits for these pollutants. The UK Government has implemented a National Air Quality Strategy, which contains objectives to reduce health impacts and meet the requirements of the EU Directive.

Air quality monitoring and modelling has shown that the area around Heathrow is of particular concern, because NO2 concentrations are above forthcoming EU limits at some monitoring sites. There is also a risk that PM10 limits may also be exceeded.

Of course, the airport is not the only contributor to local air pollution. Around Heathrow, air quality is also affected by the nearby M4 and M25 motorways. There are nevertheless many practical measures that we can and do take to manage air quality at our airport.

Our approach: BAA’s long-term goal is to drive full compliance with EU air quality limit values in locations where our airports make a significant contribution, including Heathrow.

Addressing the emmissions for which we are responsible is a key part of managing air quality around Heathrow. We also work in partnership with other airport users including airlines.

We published our first air quality action plan at Heathrow in 2002 covering the period 2001-2006. We will be publishing the second air quality action plan in the next few months, which will cover the period 2007-2011 which will include targets to reduce pollution concentrations at key monitoring sites and action to tackle PM10 levels.

Project for the sustainable development of Heathrow
Impacts on local air quality from any further potential expansion are being assessed through the Department for Transport’s Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow. The project commenced in 2004, following publication of the Air Transport White Paper. BAA has supported the work of the expert panels on air quality. The panel’s recommendations were published in 2006 and the Department for Transport is expected to publish findings later in 2007.

Influencing aircraft emissions
Aircraft engines are designed to meet the emissions standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Committee on Aviation.

Environmental Protection (CAEP). The current standard for new engines is called CAEP/4. However, engines vary significantly in the emissions they produce. Some engines made before CAEP/4 was introduced produce more nitrogen oxides (NOx) than the standard, but some produce much less.

We charge airlines for the emissions they cause and therefore encourage airlines to use lower-emission engines. Our charges are based on the amount of NOx created during take-off and landing and are calculated for each individual aircraft. This allows us to highlight differences in emissions performance and encourage airlines to improve their emissions technology.

Our performance:
Target 2006/07: To achieve 100% implementation of the air quality strategy action plan.
Performance against target: Some progress made.

Air quality action plan
Early in 2006, we consulted with our key air quality stakeholders, including our neighbouring local authorities, the Greater London Authority and airlines, for feedback on our 2001-2006 air quality action plan and what they would like to see in the next action plan.

In light of this feedback, we have drafted a new action plan and explanatory document. We have modelled the benefits on local air emissions from Heathrow as a result of the action plan, and are now in the process of final sign-off from the business before publishing the document externally.

With Terminal 5 due to open in March 2008, the new air quality action plan sets out our approach for managing emissions from a five terminal Heathrow. It does not address emissions or mitigation which may be associated with further development.

Tackling ground-based emissions
Clean Vehicles Programme and incentive scheme
Our award-winning Clean Vehicles programme at Heathrow was introduced in 2002 and is aimed at companies that operate a fleet in and around the airport. It encourages companies to use lower-emission vehicles and to increase fuel efficiency. The programme has 45 current members.
 
In 2006 we launched a new Clean Vehicle Programme’s incentive scheme with a total fund value of £100,000 in response to calls from members for financial assistance with implementing technologies. This year we received five applications for grants from companies operating within Heathrow airport. The grants will help these companies reduce NOx, PM10 and greenhouse gas emissions, for example by replacing old diesel vehicles with electric alternatives, or fitting cleaner technologies to existing vehicles.

Fleet performance
BAA Heathrow is a member of the Clean Vehicles Programme and is currently at Gold level. Our own fleet uses 22% ‘alternative’ fuel (mainly LPG or hybrid).

This graph shows NO2 trends from December 2001 to December 2006 at monitoring sites around Heathrow. Data from Hounslow Cranford have been corrected since the previous report. An additional site, Hillingdon 3, has also been added.

The graph demonstrates recent compliance with the 2010 EU limit value at most sites. The Oxford Avenue, Hillingdon, site is just above, but within the acceptable range defined by the EU. The London Hillingdon site, which is just north of the M4, is above the EU acceptable range for the first time. Road traffic emissions predominate at this site.

The air quality around Heathrow airport is reported primarily through the Heathrow Airwatch website, which is jointly sponsored by the London Boroughs of Hillingdon and Hounslow, Slough and Spelthorne Borough Councils, BAA Heathrow and British Airways. Some data from 2006 are still provisional and may change when ratified.

Influencing aircraft emissions
Under the CAEP/4 standard, new aircraft engines must meet specified levels of NOx emissions, depending on their power output. Some engines have NOx emissions substantially below the CAEP/4 standard, and our emissions charges aim to encourage airlines to use lower emission engines. We track the percentage of aircraft movements with NOx emissions at least 20% below the CAEP/4 standard, as this reflects a higher level of ambition for aircraft emissions than the CAEP/4 standard itself.

The percentage of air traffic movements meeting or exceeding the requirements of CAEP/4 -20% decreased at Heathrow. In the longer term, a greater proportion of aircraft are expected to meet or exceed the standard as fleets are replaced.

Our plans:
Target 2007: to establish a baseline of activity of Auxiliary Power Units (APU) usage in hours for Heathrow in 2007, and target for reduction in APU use in 2008.

An APU is an on-board aviation fuel powered turbine that provides electrical and pneumatical power for the aircraft systems and cabin air conditioning. Fixed electrical ground power (FEGP) is provided by BAA Heathrow for airlines to use when the aircraft is on stand. This reduces the time the APU is needed and therefore reduces air quality emissions from this source.

Our modelling estimates that aircraft activities are responsible for 56% of NOx emissions at Heathrow, and of this APUs are responsible for 18% of NOx emissions from aircraft. Therefore, we have decided to concentrate the target on establishing a baseline of usage during 2007, so we can then identify opportunities for helping to reduce the use of APUs in the future, and measure this change.

We aim to maximise the use of FEGP and provide it on 90% of stands. However, a lack of airline confidence in its ability to support all the in-flight management systems, often results in it being used alongside APUs. Our longer term objective is to restrict the use of APUs in line with upgrading the output of the FEGP from 90kVa to 150/180kVa on stands used by wide bodied aircraft.

We also remain committed to progressing our air quality programme. This includes:

• Finalising and publishing the Heathrow air quality action plan in 2007
• Implementing the actions in the action plan that we have committed to implement in 2007
  Continuing to chair the Heathrow Air Quality Working Group, attended by our neighbouring local authorities and British Airways
• Continuing to run our air quality monitoring programme and provide results to our neighbouring local authorities. This includes the integration of two air quality monitoring sites set up to monitor air emissions from the Terminal 5 construction site into the permanent BAA Heathrow air quality monitoring programme
• Continuing to support the Heathrow Airwatch website and undertaking an upgrade of the website to enhance the usability of the site
• Continuing to run the Clean Vehicles Programme and upgrade the programme to ensure that the programme is resulting in improvements in the NOx and CO2 emissions from members of the scheme
• Completion of the Clean Vehicles Programme Incentive Fund.