Airways New Zealand, Airservices Australia and the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States are the founding members of the initiative created in February 2008 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation activities in the region through technological innovation and best practice air traffic management.

Since then, the group has undertaken a series of three Trans-Pacific test flights in partnership with Air New Zealand, Qantas and United Airlines, to demonstrate and measure the emission reductions and fuel savings achievable through the use of existing efficiency procedures.

On 14 November 2008 a United Airlines aircraft flew from Sydney to San Francisco. This flight alone cut up to 15,000 kg of carbon emissions and saved more than 4,500 litres of fuel!

Alison Espley, General Manager Australia and New Zealand, United Airlines said: “Protecting our environment is a shared responsibility and the success of ASPIRE demonstrates the results of collaborative activity. United is committed to minimising our carbon footprint by continuing to expand waste management efforts and exploring alternative energies. We are thrilled that our participation in ASPIRE has demonstrated the potential for more efficient air traffic procedures and we look forward to working with our partners again in the future.”

The first ASPIRE Annual Report highlights each of the ‘green’ flights whose results will now be used in establishing a baseline for air traffic management performance and carbon emissions. In recognition of its potential to permanently reduce emissions, ASPIRE recently won the Jane’s ATC Global Award.

Virgin Blue was the first airline in the world to have a Government-certified Carbon Offset Program. Adhering to the high standards required to be certified under the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Friendly Program has contributed to the success of the program and to Guest confidence in choosing to offset their flights with the airline.

While the one millionth offset seat sector was flown late July, the presentation to Ms Helen Townley was held over until today so that Ms Townley could have the honour of receiving acknowledgement in person from Australia’s most eminent environmentalist. Professor Flannery donated his time as a means of helping Virgin Blue encourage all air travellers to offset the emissions of the flights.

Professor Flannery said; “I believe it’s important for people to address climate changes through the everyday decisions – to take individual responsibility for minimising our impacts on the environment – because that’s the only way we’ll get a committed constituency for greater political action. For many of us in the world today, no matter how much we genuinely care about this issue, air travel is something we cannot avoid as part of our working lives. All it takes is ticking a box and spending an extra dollar or two to offset the emissions relating to your flight. That is why I have agreed to take the time today to personally thank Ms Townley for being an example to us all. It is the smallest things we do that can have the greatest cumulative effect.”

They held test flights for the green plane last year and although it is only a two-person plane, is a start to green air travel. Boeing have claimed that it is the first plane in the history of aviation to powered itself by hydrogen powered fuel cells which convert through a chemical reaction to electricity and water- none of the pollution associated with combustion engines.

The environmentally friendly plane took five years to develop and comes with several other advances in green earth technology. Since the development of the 200ft wingspan plane there have been other advancements to help achieve the ultimate goal: green air travel.

But we cannot celebrate the airplane success just yet. Still, no one has come up with a large passenger plane that can produce no carbon emissions like the green Boeing plane can.

Environmentalists remain sceptical over the air travel developments and believe that air travel will never be truly pollution free. Aviation campaigner Richard Dyer has said that technological advances in emission reduction improves only one percent per year, compared to air travel which grows at a rapid rate of 7 percent.

Although there has been planes and other technological advancements, the outlook of green air travel is still far from the horizon.

The small holes in the aircraft, they believe will dramatically reduce the mid-flight drag that causes high carbon emissions during flight. Half the drag a plane will experience will be from a skin fraction, anything that reduces this will reduce the amount of fuel used.

The researchers explained that the ‘bottle-top’ invention was made based on the Helmholtz resonance principle- the same one that applies to a bottletop where the air is compressed in to a cavity and increasing the pressure, forcing the air out to create an oscillation.

The team believe that this could cut the fuel costs by up to a fifth, which would save millions of carbon emissions being released into the air. If the invention proves to be successful the technology would also be applied to improve fuel efficiency for cars, trains and boats.

Aviation pollution contributes to around 3.5% of global warming for human activities and is continuing to rise. Part of the reason for this is due to the fact airlines benefit from large tax breaks. They have cheap flights and people jump on board, not thinking about the environmental consequences.

Another factor is that international aviation is not included in most international treaties on climate change. This means that there is no agreement on whose responsibility the pollution is and how to locate the carbon emissions.

But what can be done about the carbon dioxide pollution? Cars, noise pollution and airport expansion all contribute to aviation pollution. But grounding all planes is not the answer to the problem, as this would have many economic and social impacts.

The government believe air travel and its effect on climate change is an international as well as domestic issue and needs an international solution. They also hope that emissions trading schemes will help to reduce carbon emissions from the aircrafts.

The government also hope that technology expansion and design will help to reduce the C02 released. Currently it is our job as consumers to be aware of the emissions that are released into our green house when we fly. By choosing to fly only short distances or holidaying close to home, we can help reduce the amount of C02 in the air. Look for greener ways of traveling to your dream destination.