World first for China Airlines

by CHIEF CORRESPONDENT, TOM BALLANTYNE  

September 1st 2012

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Taiwan’s China Airlines (CAL) has begun operating the world’s first trans-Pacific climate observation flight. The plane, an A340-300, is equipped with a sampling port extending from its fuselage which collects data on atmospheric gases, water vapor, ozone, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide during each flight. Read More »

Known as IAGOS (In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System), the flights are in support of the Pacific Greenhouse Gases Measurement Project (PGGM), which is run jointly by Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), the National Science Council and the Taiwan’s National Central University.

China Airlines president, Huang-Hsiang Sun: set 2012 as eco year for the carrier

CAL is the first Asian airline to join the PGGM project and the first to operate an IAGOS-equipped flight for taking atmospheric measurements on trans-Pacific routes.

The IAGOS instrumentation is installed in the avionics compartment beneath the A340 cockpit. After landing, the collected data is automatically transmitted by satellite to the European Research Centre, providing the global scientific community with data for research on worldwide warming and climate change.

The EPA and the National Central University will combine the data collected by CAL with observations from the FORMOSAT-3 satellite, ground weather stations and sea observations to analyze the sources and vectors of air pollution. The information can be used as a reference when formulating air pollution control policy.

The CAL climate observation aircraft made its maiden return trip on the Taipei-Hong Kong route, but will mainly be deployed on services between Taipei and Vancouver.

The official name of the project “PGGM-Pacific Greenhouse Gases Measurement” is painted on the nose of the aircraft and both sides of the fuselage will display the message: “The Official Airline for Climate Monitoring”.

The aircraft livery features the earth cradled by a flight attendant to inspire passengers to protect the environment. 

CAL’s president, Huang-Hsiang Sun, set 2012 as “Eco Year” for the airline. Apart from promoting a green quality policy and corporate environmental management, CAL is continuing to introduce more eco-friendly services, including paperless electronic operations, use of local food ingredients and recycling.