Federal Aviation Administration

Particulate matter emissions from aviation

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Defense (DoD), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with manufacturers, airports and airlines, and in consultation with other stakeholders is pursuing research to understand and quantify aircraft particulate emissions (PM) in relation to other sources. This research is expected to result in metrics and models to calculate aviation PM and influence regulatory action and technology development that could exceed the $500 million per year threshold definition for highly influential scientific disseminations.  The findings will support Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and are expected to be of high public interest regardless of the level of quantification pertaining to aircraft relative to other sources because of the health impacts associated with PM.  A work product should be available to initiate the peer review process in FY 2008.   This is a long-term effort and other work products will be peer-reviewed in the future.

Highly influential scientific information

Influential scientific information

The Peer Review Plan is still being developed.  The preliminary plan includes the following elements:

(1) The peer review would occur in the second half of Fiscal Year 2008.

(2) This review would most likely be conducted by individual letters.  The PARTNER Center of Excellence, which operates independently of the FAA, will be charged with facilitating the peer review.

(3) The details of the plans for public comments are being refined.  There will be opportunities for public comment on the work product through symposia and public meetings. 

(4) All public comments will be made available to the peer reviewers.

(5) We expect to have more than 10 peer reviewers.

(6) The peer reviewers should have expertise including, but not limited to, chemistry, PM measurement techniques, health effects of PM, aircraft engine design, combustor technology, chemical kinetics, dispersion modeling, airport and aircraft operations, and aircraft engine emissions regulatory practices.

(7) The plan for selecting the peer reviewers is still under development.  Reviewers will be designated by an outside organization (most likely PARTNER in collaboration with its Advisory Board).

(8) The plan to nominate peer reviewers is still being developed. Scientific and professional societies and the public could be asked to nominate peer reviewers.

Dr. Lourdes Maurice

E-mail:

Lourdes.Maurice@faa.gov

Phone:

(202) 493-4293