As the major air carriers in the U.S. are reaching deeper into the wallet of consumers by issuing charges for items like the first checked bag of luggage, or overbooking nearly every flight in the hope that we can be bought off for vouchers to show up and be treated like cattle again later, Airbus is finding their own way to fight the fuel crisis: they’re promised a “green” aircraft by 2020. The move, which is being presented to the press as a small step towards a fossil fuel-free aircraft, is expected to focus on small things, like removing some of the electrical loading from the jet engines, and reducing carbon emissions.

Why Not Go Completely Green And Dump Fuel Costs?

Airbus and Boeing, the last two major manufactures of commercial aircraft in the world, both claim to be investigating the possibility of hydrogen fuel cells powering their aircraft in the near future, and are projecting the development of a carbon-capture system sometime before that. At present, they report that the engines using those technologies would have to be larger than the actual aircraft, a detriment to any device seeking to take flight.

This is bad news not just for the airlines, but for consumers as well, as jet fuel is one of the most difficult to refine from crude, and therefore horribly expensive for the airlines, even ones like Southwest, who have options on their fuel cost carved out for several years in advance. Without a major revolution in technological development, we’re not going to see carbon capture technology until 2030 in an industry as desperate for it as coal–how can it be scaled down to something as small as a jet engine?

What Technology Is Available Right Now?

For the eco-friendly consumer, the tech that’s 20 years away at best isn’t nearly as important as the tech that’s available to fight climate change right now, so what’s out there until Airbus finds a way to shoehorn some clean power plants under wing? Airbus and Boeing both have been working on increasingly fuel-efficient aircraft for years, not because of the environment, but because of the bottom line, and the latest line of aircraft are reaping the benefits: the 787 Dreamliner and A380 generate about 20% less carbon dioxide than their predecessors.

Unfortunately, these new aircraft haven’t been seeing the order numbers that the manufactures would prefer, as the airline industry struggles through some of the worst years in memory–they’re collectively heading for a 6 billion dollar loss this year. With that sort of bottom line, it’s no wonder that the ancient Lockheed L-1011 or Douglas DC-10 are still patrolling the skies, taking as many more flights as the mechanics can squeeze out of their airframes.

This Doesn’t Sound Promising. What’s A Green Traveler To Do?

1. Use e-ticketing instead of paper tickets.
2. Pack light, and keep yourself in shape–every pound on that aircraft makes it less fuel-efficient, and you never know–at some point the airlines might start charging for being overweight.
3. Fly in newer aircraft. The jump from the L-1011 to the 787 wasn’t made overnight, and as a rule, the newer the aircraft you’re traveling on is, the less harm your trip will do to the planet.

More Reading

Airbus Maker Pledges Green Planes (Guardian)
A380 GTL Test Flight Kicks Off Airbus Alternative Fuel Flight Test Program (Green Car Congress)
Green Travel Tips (Buzzle.com)