Sustainability and Environment
Emissions trading in Europe coming in less than three years
Aircraft operators who will be subject to Europe’s new emissions trading scheme (ETS) beginning Jan.

Aircraft operators who will be subject to Europe’s new emissions trading scheme (ETS) beginning Jan. 1, 2012, need to start preparing now to be part of this complex process. Pre-compliance emissions monitoring will be conducted for flights starting in 2010 and 2011, and to be part of this, operators need to submit a monitoring plan by August  and have it approved by year-end.

All aircraft with an mtow of more than 5.7 metric tons (12,666 pounds) will be subject to the ETS, which applies to flights within European airspace as well as to and from it. A general exemption is available for flights operated entirely under visual flight rules.