Sustainable Air Transport

This module covers existing and emerging sustainability issues faced by airlines around the world: sustainable aircraft technologies and designs, including electric, hydrogen and hybrid; inflight health and wellbeing of air passengers and crews; sustainable aviation fuels; countermeasures against human and wildlife trafficking; sustainable baggage and cargo operations; sustainable aviation catering and cabin waste management; air transport workforce and passenger equity, diversity and inclusion; humanitarian and disaster assistance flights; green alternatives to aviation; airspace modernisation and sustainable air traffic management. The module is based on international and UK regulations, informed by recent research, illustrated with real-life examples and enriched by talks given by top world industry experts.

This module covers existing and emerging sustainability issues faced by airports around the world: sustainable airport land use, airport cities and aerotropolises; sustainable airport terminal design, renewable energy and operations; sustainable airport surface access; advanced air mobility (technologies, vertiports, U-space, etc.); noise and mitigation strategies; local air quality and emissions; sustainable GSE and ramp handling operations; airport biodiversity preservation and wildlife hazard management; circular economy, waste and water management; climate change and extreme weather impacts; disruption and crisis management. The module is based on international and UK regulations, informed by recent research, illustrated with real-life examples and enriched by talks given by top world industry experts.

This module covers the application of transport system designs to the development of airport surface access interventions, in the context of integrated and inter-related networks and the impact of both established and emerging technologies (i.e. applications of Intelligent Transportation System – ITS). Current practice and recent research in the design of transport infrastructure for a range of transport modes including walking, cycling, mass transit and motor vehicles, traffic management and urban design, airport catchment areas and airports as multimodal transport hubs will be discussed (using case studies of multimodal airport hubs in the UK and around the world). 

This module covers the policy context within which sustainable transport policies, plans and schemes are developed, financed, assessed, monitored and reviewed: the global climate change policy frameworks; connectivity, accessibility, social equity and inclusion; transport, spatial development and land-use; responsibilities for transport planning; transport regulation and ownership; planning policy and guidance; local transport plans; sustainable airport surface access policies; multi-modal studies and models; urban strategies and strategic models; walking and cycling strategies; environmental airport capacity; demand management techniques; management of transport emissions and noise, including SAF mandates; climate change adaptation and resilience policies; sustainable tourism policies; strategic modelling.

This module covers sustainability strategy and reporting in air transport: airline and airport corporate social responsibility; airport carbon accreditation and air transport service quality frameworks; sustainability strategy and roadmaps development; environmental and sustainability management systems; Emissions Trading Schemes (ETSs) and Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA); voluntary passenger and cargo offset programs; sustainability reporting standards; sustainability communications; green financing; engagement with local communities. The module is based on international and UK regulations, informed by recent research, illustrated with real-life examples and enriched by talks given by top industry experts from the UK and around the world.

This module addresses various forms of appraisals providing a critical awareness of established and innovative methods used to appraise environmental, social and economic impacts of alternative air transport and airport surface access policies, plans, schemes and projects at local and strategic levels. It will cover such topics as economic appraisal (transport user benefits; public accounts; reliability and wider economic impacts; cost benefit techniques); environmental appraisal (noise, air pollution, landscape, heritage and biodiversity, climate change, journey ambience); the “Quality of Life Capital” approach; safety appraisal (accidents, casualties and their prevention; security and perceived safety effects); strategic level appraisal.

This module explores the broad concept of sustainability: the terms development, contemporary and future uses, urban sustainability, Just Sustainabilities, radical sustainability, other sustainability concepts, such as ecosystem services and beyond; sustainability challenges; green social prescribing; green infrastructure solutions; air quality; climate change (disease epidemiology, carbon); green agenda (from social return to ecosystem assessment). The module provides an opportunity to personalise the course by choosing and analysing a case study that illustrates innovative sustainability practices relevant to air transport or airport surface access.

This module examines and evaluates processes for investigating and mitigating the impacts of development in the context of environmental impact assessment and planning procedures: screening in EIA, scoping and baseline studies in EIA, quality assurance in EIA, heritage planning and EIA, public participation and stakeholder engagement, sustainable planning and impact assessment, mitigation and monitoring in EIA, sustainability and EIA, social impact assessment / health Impact. The module provides an opportunity to personalise the course by focusing on the assessment of the environmental feasibility of a development at Manchester’s Airport City with reference to the likelihood of gaining the necessary planning consent.

This module covers measurement and modelling of environmental noise using appropriate sound measuring instrumentation and modelling capabilities: the main provisions of current environmental noise legislation, guidance and best practice; instrumentation for environmental sound measurement; noise metrics, frequency weightings and filters; quantifying effects of environmental noise, noise prediction software; aviation and ground transport noise measurement, assessment & management. The module provides an opportunity to personalise the course by producing an Acoustic Design Statement (ADS) for a development at Manchester’s Airport City.

This module provides an opportunity to conduct a research project, which must focus on a topic relevant to sustainable air transport or sustainable airport surface access. It is an opportunity to choose a topic of interest and explore it in detail, including conducting a review of relevant literature, developing research methodologies, collecting and analysing information, presenting and discussing obtained results. You will be allocated a supervisor to guide you through the process. You are encouraged to collaborate with both air transport and other relevant industries to ensure impact and relevance to career expectations.