The impact of aircraft takeoff thrust setting on NOX emissions

• Published in: Journal of air transport management Vol. 65; pp. 191 - 197
• Main Authors: Koudis, George S., Hu, Simon J., North, Robin J., Majumdar, Arnab, Stettler, Marc E.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Aircraft takeoff; Airport operations; Environmental impact; NOX emissions; Reduced thrust; NOX emissions; Reduced thrust; Airport operations; Environmental impact; Aircraft takeoff
• ISSN: 0969-6997; 1873-2089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2017.06.009

Reduced thrust takeoff has the potential to reduce aircraft-related NOX emissions at airports, however this remains to be investigated using flight data. This paper analyses the effect of takeoff roll thrust setting variability on the magnitude and spatial distribution of NOX emissions using high-resolution data records for 497 Airbus A319 activities at London Heathrow. Thrust setting varies between 67 and 97% of maximum, and aircraft operating in the bottom 10th percentile emit on average 514 g less NOX per takeoff roll (32% reduction) than the top 10th percentile, however this is dependent on takeoff roll duration. Spatial analysis suggests that peak NOX emissions, corresponding to the start of the takeoff roll, can be reduced by up to 25% by adopting reduced thrust takeoff activities. Furthermore, the length of the emission source also decreases. Consequently, the use of reduced thrust takeoff may enable improved local air quality at airports. •Flight data analysis for 497 Airbus A319 aircraft takeoffs at London Heathrow.•The adopted thrust setting during takeoff is found to vary between 67 and 97%.•The 10th percentile of takeoff thrust settings emits 32% less NOX than the 90th.•Reducing takeoff thrust also leads to a reduced NOX emission source spatial extent.