Greener Skies for the Airlines?

The air travel industry has long been deemed an un-green one, and for good reason. Traveling by plane requires the burning of a huge load of fuel—and as of now, there’s nothing really that can be done to avoid it. But change is in the air (too many bad puns to choose from there): A number of incoming green minded innovations may help to reshape the industry.

For instance, a recent article in Slate profiled some of the new developments in fuel-saving aircraft. Both Boeing and the British aircraft company Bombardier are developing planes that will use 20 percent less fuel. Other innovations in frame and structure are being researched as well, which would allow for more lightweight, efficient craft. Virgin Atlantic is working on a technology for a biodiesel powered plane.

But while we wait for those planes can get off the ground, there are still ways the industry can improve its eco-unfriendly ways. Sweden's airlines, for example, are doing a number of things to green the way their planes impact the environment. First, they've pledged to offset the carbon footprint they leave burning jet fuels with other eco-friendly projects, like using wind farms. They've also pioneered experiments in adjusting flight speed and landing approaches in order to find the most efficient way to fly.

Other industry wide eco-innovations include a switch to a paperless ticketing process via online e-tickets, which saves a heck of a lot of trees, if not the atmosphere from burned jet fuel. Still, steps are being made in the right direction. Who knows? Someday you may actually be able to fly green.

This post was inspired by Battleground Earth.