BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF AND LINKS TO INFORMATION ACTIVITIES:

Data Collection, Observation, Monitoring

Information is collected by questionnaire, or by correspondence, from States' aviation administrations, airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, and scientific research institutions.

The following three types of data contribute to ICAO's work on aircraft engine emissions and are of potential relevance to Chapter 9 of Agenda 21:

• Under Article 67 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, each State undertakes that its international airlines shall file traffic reports, cost statistics and financial statements with ICAO. For details, see Manual on the ICAO Statistics Programme (DOC 9060-AT/723/4).
• Information collected from aircraft engine manufacturers on the emissions characteristics of their engines during the landing and take-off cycle is assembled in the ICAO Exhaust Emissions Data Bank.
• On behalf of ICAO's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection, NASA maintains a world-wide database on "Research on Atmospheric Effects of Aviation". The data for this database is collected by questionnaire from governments, research institutions.

Methodologies, Quality Control, Harmonization
Standardization of aviation statistics world-wide under the ICAO Statistics Programme. ICAO holds regular statistical workshops to ensure quality control in support of the ICAO Statistics Programme.

Harmonization is provided for under the ICAO Statistics Programme.

ICAO has developed various forecasting methodologies relevant to civil aviation (for example, traffic forecasts and fleet forecasts).

Assessment and Analysis
While it is difficult to give precise cross-references to Agenda 21, ICAO's analytical work in support of policy-making on aircraft engine emissions is likely to be relevant in connection with Chapter 9 (Protection of the Atmosphere) Programme Areas: B2 Promoting Sustainable Development (Transportation)- particularly paragraph 9.15 (c); C Preventing Stratospheric Ozone Depletion; and D Transboundary Atmospheric Pollution - particularly paragraphs 9.28 (a) and (d). ICAO is at present seeking accurate reliable assessment of whether - and, if so, to what extent - aircraft engine emissions contribute to climate change and to stratospheric ozone depletion. When the impact of aircraft engine emissions is better defined, ICAO will seek appropriate solutions.

In September 1996, the IPCC agreed to undertake a Special Report on Aviation and the Global Atmosphere, in collaboration with the Ozone Scientific Assessment Panel under the Montreal Protocol and with ICAO involvement.

Techniques used are assessment of relevant technology; development of emission inventories; cost-benefit analysis of mitigating operations.

Indicators

Modelling

Expert Systems/Decision-support systems

Early Warning Mechanisms

Reports/Information dissemination

a. Dissemination method
Data collected through ICAO's Statistics Programme are published in hardcopy form and are also available on tape or diskette. The first edition of the ICAO's Exhaust Emissions Data Bank was published in 1995 (ICAO Doc 9646-AN/943).

Most of the information emerging from ICAO's work on aircraft engine emissions is primarily being developed for use by States within the context of ICAO's decision-making processes. Such information would not normally be disseminated outside ICAO, but, if appropriate, could be made available to other UN bodies.

Information is made available in a form appropriate for use by ICAO's governing bodies.

Network Development and Support

Capacity-Building
In connection with ICAO's Statistics Programme, ICAO holds statistical workshops aimed at helping States to fulfil their statistical reporting obligations to ICAO.

Internet Access

http://www.icao.org

Responsible Office/Person (for inquiries or follow-up):
Mr J. Crayston
Earthwatch focal point
Co-ordinator, Air transport and Environmental Programmes
ICAO
999 University Street Montreal
Quebec, Canada H3C 5H7
Tel: +1514 954 6371
Fax: +1514 954 6744
jcrayston@icao.org

Date of preparation: March 1997

ORGANIZATION: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)