Air quality - measuring and modelling air quality impact
We work with regulators, local communities, local authorities and airports to better understand issues around both noise and aircraft emissions.
Measuring and monitoring
Between 2002 and 2006, we have carried out nitrogen dioxide monitoring at Heathrow together with the help of the airport operator.
We also continue to work in partnership with academics and other research groups to better identify the local impacts of our aircraft operations on local communities. This includes:
- OMEGA - as part of the group we are actively helping them with their research programmes into a broad range of topics including noise, local air quality and climate change.
- Manchester Metropolitan University - we are working with them to evaluate new measurement equipment.
- University of Reading - helping to provide facilities for them to measure emissions from aircraft engines.
- BAA - via the HAQWG, and "Heathrow air watch" group.
Support for research
We have helped in a number of research initiatives to measure the NOx output from our aircraft engines and auxillary power units (APU's).
We have also helped with novel research methods aiming to help understand what happens to these emissions after they leave the aircraft.
In conjunction with Qinetiq, British Airways has also carried out research into particle emissions from tyres and brakes, to aid understanding of the environmental impact this may have. This work started in 2005 - the latest development was in October 2008 when we obtained samples of tyre and brake dust from a number of aircraft. This material has been passed to Oxford University and Manchester Metropolitan University for the development of measurement equipment to gain a better understanding of the characteristics of the dust that ends up attached to the wheels and aircraft.
Find out more
Heathrow Air Watch
To help get information about local air quality measurements in the area into the public domain, we've also worked in partnership with BAA and local councils in setting up the ’Heathrow Air Watch’ website.
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