Articlebot
Jun 3rd '08, 05:56 PM
<p><img alt="" src="http://www.ecogeek.org/images/image/POSTjet.jpg" /></p> <p>Attendees of the ILA Berlin Air Show this year received a look at the first commercial aircraft powered (in part) by fuel cells. Airbus and the German Aerospace Center presented the Airbus A320, which they are testing with a fuel cell system. Their goal is to take the first step towards <a href="http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/718/74/">reducing aircraft environmental impact</a> (including everything from fuel use to noise pollution) by 50% within the next 12 years, and while the fuel cells cannot replace the jet engines needed for flight, they can provide power while on the ground. Considering the amount of <a href="http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1681/69/">time and fuel spent on the runway</a>, this has the potential to make a sizeable impact on emissions.</p> <p>Taking it one step further, Airbus is also minimizing its impact through PAMELA, Process for Advanced Management of End-of-Life Aircraft. In other words, they’re recycling. The first plant will come online in France in October. Airbus is working to recover 85% of materials used in aircraft, and reduce by 66% the waste from end-of-life airplanes.</p> <p>While there are lots of <a href="http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/828/74/">ideas on how to fly green</a>, it looks to me like Airbus is well on the way to clearer skies.</p> <p><a href="http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1701/">EcoGeek - Technology for the Environment</a></p>