The link between air transport growth and development has become increasingly important, due to the ongoing emergence of the global economy/society and the growth of international tourism. Despite short term downturns, forecasts indicate strong growth over the next 2-3 decades. The benefits of meeting demand are significant and can be critical for some city/regions.
Airlines face significant environmental challenges, at a Global (fuel use and climate change emissions) and local (noise and emissions) level, that threaten growth and will significantly increase costs. The growing environmental impacts of aviation, coupled with tightening environmental legislation, increasing utility and waste management costs can all impact upon airport growth. The ability of an airport to secure development funds and its value as an asset are both affected by its environmental legacy and environmental capacity constraints. Finally, the changing climate will have very significant implications for governments and all sectors of the industry well within the strategic planning horizon of airports and airlines.
The importance of environment as a business risk has increased significantly and rapidly over the past decade. The pace of change is speeding up and the future is going to be very different from the past both in terms of challenges and solutions.
Against this background, it is a critical that all air transport stakeholders (industry, Government, academia and NGOs) understand the principles of aviation sustainability and environmental management at a strategic and operational level. The problem is that such expertise is comparatively rare.
Staff at the Centre for Aviation, Transport and the Environment (Manchester Metropolitan University) have addressed the environmental sustainability of aviation for over 20 years through research and knowledge transfer between the academic, industry, regulatory and NGO sectors. Their philosophy is based around anticipating the environmental constraints likely to restrict aviation growth and developing management and mitigation strategies that maximise the likelihood of sustainable growth.
CATE (whose senior staff have worked with or in the air transport industry) has a 20 year track record of training and knowledge transfer activities including:
The Centre runs two short courses that are accredited under the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme by the Manchester Metropolitan University on Aviation Sustainability and Environmental management at Airports. Details of the two courses, that are run during the last week of November, can be found here. If you wish to book, please follow the ‘Book a course’ button on the right side of your screen.
If you wish to discuss this programme with a member of staff please contact Professor Callum Thomas at c.s.thomas@mmu.ac.uk