Virgin boss aims to save the planet

Airline entrepreneur tackles climate change.

British business mogul Richard Branson made headlines last week by pledging to invest a whopping US$3 billion in programmes and businesses that tackle climate change. Less than a week later, he is back on the trail, announcing plans to cut carbon emissions in British aviation by up to 25%.

Both moves are winning applause from environmental groups and scientists, although they note that the money is an investment rather than a donation, and that the scheme for air emissions looks extremely optimistic.

Branson wrote to the major airlines operating in Britain two weeks ago, and is organizing a forum for them through his company Virgin Atlantic. He has suggested a number of initiatives he wants to see implemented by all airlines, worldwide.

"What we're suggesting would save over 150 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year," he claims. That would be 25% of total global airline emissions.

It all adds up

Each initiative suggested is small, but could add up to definite fuel savings if widely adopted, says Douglas Thompson of the University of Glasgow's aerospace engineering department.

At the forefront of Branson's scheme is a plan to tow planes to runways, instead of making them taxi there. The amount of fuel saved this way, as a percentage of that used during a seven-hour transatlantic flight, would be tiny, says Thompson. But, he adds, "each thing is an improvement."

Branson also advises that pilots start their descents from higher altitude, to improve efficiency. And a raft of other small steps to make aircraft lighter and so more fuel efficient are suggested, such as using carbon-fibre oxygen bottles, and even painting aircraft with lighter paint.

Streamlined air-traffic control systems would make for better efficiency and less time in the skies. "The mess of European air traffic control is punishing the environment," says Branson.

[link to www.nature.com]