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Airlines rally aviation community to low carbon emission, drone integration, others

By Wole Oyebade
27 September 2019   |   4:10 am
International airlines have urged the global aviation community to give priority to issues of climate change, drone usage and its integration, among other issues, facing the development of the future of the industry.

International airlines have urged the global aviation community to give priority to issues of climate change, drone usage and its integration, among other issues, facing the development of the future of the industry.

Meeting at the 40th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), in Montreal, Canada, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) rallied members to the implementation of set agenda on the common challenges.

IATA’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alexandre de Juniac, noted that three years ago, ICAO member states achieved a historic agreement to implement a Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

“The whole aviation industry welcomed this significant commitment as part of the overall approach to meaningfully mitigate the industry’s climate change impact. Today, CORSIA is a reality with airlines tracking their emissions.

“Unfortunately, there is a real risk that CORSIA will be undermined by governments piling on additional carbon pricing instruments. They are branded ’green taxes‘ but we have yet to see any funds allocated to actually reducing carbon.

“CORSIA was agreed as the single global economic measure to achieve carbon-neutral growth by generating $40 billion in climate funding and offsetting around 2.5 billion tonnes of CO2 between 2021 and 2035. Governments need to focus on making that commitment a success,” de Juniac said.

IATA, in cooperation with Airports Council International (ACI), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA), coordinated by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) submitted a working paper that, among other things, calls on governments to: reaffirm the importance of CORSIA at the ICAO Assembly, participate in CORSIA from the voluntary period before it becomes mandatory in 2027, reaffirm that CORSIA is “the market-based measure applying to CO2 emissions from international aviation”, and stick to the principle that aviation’s international emissions should be accounted for only once, with no duplication.

Also, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as drones, have tremendous potential, including for door-to-door cargo shipments, urban air mobility and delivery of emergency supplies and medicines in remote areas. However, an absolute pre-requisite is their safe and efficient integration into airspace being used for the transportation of passengers.

“By 2023, drone operations in the US alone could triple according to some estimates. And the general trend is the same worldwide. The challenge is to achieve this potential safely. The safety of civil aviation is the model. Industry and governments must work in partnership on the global standards and innovations needed to safely achieve the tremendous potential of drones,” de Juniac said.

IATA, in cooperation with CANSO and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations (IFALPA) submitted a working paper calling on states to work together through ICAO and in cooperation with industry to develop provisions for these airspace new entrants.

The Federal Government has urged Simba Group, an Indian firm, to fast track arrangement towards establishing tricycle factory, popularly called ‘Keke Napep’ in the country.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, made the call on Wednesday at inauguration of the state-of-the-art showroom of tricycles in Abuja.

He said when established, both would benefit maximally in the area of exchanging and developing technologies, assuring them of stable electricity supply and other incentives.

According to Senator Alasoadura, the firm has been embarking on empowerment programmes, which have developed skills and citizens have benefitted from their products nationwide.

Earlier, Chairman of Simba Group, Chief Vinay Grover, said they are committed to social and economic development of citizens, adding that their products strike at the heart of this philosophy.
Grover added that tricycles are used to drive millions of Nigerians to work, to school, and to get on with their daily lives; and in turn, driving the economy by employing them directly.

“Our products generate employment for millions of people in the country, right from the drivers of our motorcycles and tricycles, to the dealers, microfinance partners and fleet owners.”

Explaining further, he said that Simba TVS Centre has been designed to the highest international standards, and offers customers a one-stop-shop solution for vehicles, spare parts and service.

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