TAKING OFF TOWARD A GREENER FUTURE

Efforts to make flying sustainable

- Rachel Kehoe

Flying may be the quickest way to travel long distances, but it also releases a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other harmful emissions into the air. This worsens global warming and the problems wrought by climate change. Concern about air travel’s carbon footprint has led some environmental advocates to ditch flying altogether. ut is this the only solution? Researchers are exploring ways to create a greener future for aviation.

First Steps

On January 19, 2023, a small, 19-seat twin-engine aircraft took to the skies. It completed a 10-mile (16-km) loop before returning to Cotswold Airport in the United Kingdom. This aircraft is the world's largest to complete a flight powered by hydrogen fuel-a clean energy source with zero carbon emissions.

Under its left wing, two fuel cells work in harmony. Fuel cells act a bit like batteries. These convert hydrogen into electricity to power an electric motor. A lithium battery provides an additional boost of energy during takeoff. As a safety measure, a standard plane engine drives the other propeller.

This successful test flight is a huge step toward making air travel more environmentally friendly. But researchers aren't stopping here. Now, their focus is on larger aircraft and on fueling 40- to 80-seater planes with hydrogen. This will be no simple feat, but it appears key to making zero-carbon flight a reality.

Reality Check

Just how much does air travel contribute to the release of planet-warming greenhouse gases? Let's consider a flight from London, England, to New York City. It emits about 2,000 pounds (around 900 kilograms) of carbon dioxide (CO2).