Modeling aircraft emissions during the taxiing phase to assess air quality impacts: An Australian airport case study

As the aviation industry targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) also encourages member states to adopt initiatives to improve air quality by addressing other pollutants. Some airport operators voluntarily evaluate their impact on air quality. Limited literature is available on air quality assessment methods around airports. This paper proposes a refined ICAO air quality model focused on the taxiing phase, customised for both aircraft and airport specifics, providing more accurate emission estimates than the standard model. This enhanced model enables airport operators, airlines, and general aviation operators to create more precise air pollutant emission inventories. Additionally, the results indicate that per-passenger emissions of CO, NOx, HC, and SOx during taxiing are higher in general aviation than for commercial flights at the selected Australian airport case study, with CO emissions around 71 times higher. Consequently, general aviation flights should be included in airport emission inventories due to their significant contribution. In the Australian airport case study, the A330 commercial aircraft and the BE76 general aviation aircraft show the highest CO emissions per passenger during taxiing. Therefore, airlines and general aviation operators should increasingly consider per-passenger emissions during the taxiing phase, along with other factors, in their fleet and operational decisions. • • Enhanced ICAO Model : Proposed an airport- and aircraft-specific model to assess taxiing phase emissions more accurately. • • Applicability: Method suitable for airports and airlines to better monitor and manage air quality effectively. • • General Aviation Impact: GA flights notably affect air quality; their emissions should be included in inventories. • • Policy Insights: Provides emission data on different aircraft types to inform policy and regulations.