I am the first to admit that I am only a recent convert to the need to tackle climate change. I was inspired after meeting the former US vice-president Al Gore, who convinced me I could play a part in persuading others that it was time for urgent change.
Why have I so strongly set out my green ambitions for the travel industry? Because from the books I’ve read and the scientists I’ve met, I am certain the world is heading for environmental catastrophe if we carry on as we are, relying on fossil fuels to improve our daily lives.
I am an airline owner and yes, we have done our bit to cause environmental damage. But it’s not acceptable for anyone in the aviation industry to sit back and claim nothing can be done, or should be done, to protect our future generations.
That’s why I have written to colleagues at other airlines, aircraft manufacturers, engine makers and airport owners to form an industry body that can start to make a real difference, and tell everyone what it is doing to tackle climate change. There has been an excellent response.
There are real benefits to moving quickly and reducing emissions. Saving fuel and therefore CO2 emissions will help the environment but will also reduce fuel costs, in turn helping passengers who will benefit from lower prices.
There are several initiatives which can be worked on urgently. Firstly, we can cut CO2 emissions ourselves. I have laid out a plan for ‘starting grids’ at busy airports, enabling aircraft to be towed from their stands, without their engines running, to allocated parking bays closer to the runway.
It isn’t right in this day and age that some of our aircraft have to taxi for 70 minutes at JFK Airport in New York, or even 30 minutes at Heathrow, wasting fuel and churning out CO2 emissions. The technology exists today for towing aircraft efficiently, thereby contributing to saving our planet.
We are now working with Gatwick, Heathrow and Los Angeles airports on a starting grid trial, which we hope will be rolled out worldwide.
There are other things we can do. Persuading airports to support Continuous Descent Approach for all landings would be a great start. CDA means pilots begin descending from high altitude much earlier, leading to a slower and smoother approach. Virgin Atlantic pilots are trained this way.
Making our traffic control systems more efficient, especially in Europe, would erase tens of millions of tonnes of CO2 emissions. Aircraft don’t always fly direct, as the crow flies. They should be allowed to. But arcane practices by some governments get in the way of environmental progress.
Finally, military airspace still exists as if the cold war is alive and well. Do we really need military exercises on the same scale as 20 years ago? Think of the huge amounts of fuel and CO2 emissions coming out of those military dinosaurs in the sky. Just think of the extra fuel civilian aircraft are using to avoid military training areas.
These are just several ideas which Virgin Atlantic has focused on. With the aviation industry working together on environmental initiatives there will be plenty of other schemes, helping us all to quickly get our own house in order.
Within two years, we need to have seen a dramatic shift in the aviation industry’s thinking and a substantial cut in emissions. We do not have the luxury of time when it comes to climate change. Airlines, airports, air traffic controllers, and governments need to act fast.