Improving ground noise and emissions at Stansted Airport

Meeting our corporate responsibility objectives requires close collaboration with our partners. In 2007, we worked with easyJet to reduce the use of auxiliary power units (APUs) – small engines used to power air conditioning and instruments in aircraft on the ground. It takes 2kg of fuel and produces 7kg of CO2 to run an APU on an easyJet A319 for just one minute. APUs also contribute to air pollution and noise at our airports.

At Stansted we provide an electricity connection at stands which can be used to power aircraft instead of an APU. These connections were not being widely used, and we conducted a survey to find out why. This highlighted problems with the reliability of the electrical power supply.

In partnership with easyJet, we tested the reliability of the electrical connections at every aircraft stand at Stansted. A team observed how ramp staff connected the cable to arriving easyJet aircraft. The easyJet base captain then boarded the aircraft to check the electrical supply to the aircraft and whether it was being accepted by on-board systems. BAA staff were also invited by easyJet to Munich airport where they reported 100% reliability with the system.

The survey identified a number of practices that could affect reliability. These included storing the equipment face up, exposing the pins to rain. We presented the survey findings to pilots and ramp managers in a workshop and issued a training presentation disc to all ramp handling companies. The BAA team has been invited by the plug manufacturer to look at a possible redesign of the plug to improve connection to the aircraft.

We plan to conduct a second survey to assess whether the project has reduced APU use.