The themes of technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and organizing

Active Networks

Table 2 shows some examples of active networks found among agents in the aviation projects for sustainability. A close relationship among agents has supported a number of innovations since the Wright brothers.

Aviation is an integrated multi-technology system. Aircraft development and operation in­volve thousands of people all over the world. During the development of a new aircraft, such as the Boeing 787, or the Mitsubishi MRJ, the aircraft manufacturer “works together” with not only engine manufacture and other suppliers but

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also with airlines and government agencies. Among various projects, the Asia and Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions (ASPIRE) and the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) are especially interesting because the networks found in the former project are interna­tional, and the later project involves more differ­ent agents than in most other aviation projects (Table 2).

ASPIRE: ASPIRE was created in 2008 as a joint partnership between air navigation service providers - Airservices Australia, Airways New Zealand, and the FAA - to demonstrate optimized operational procedures to reduce fuel burn with current best practices and existing technology. The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) joined in the ASPIRE partnership in 2009, and 2010, respectively. To dateASPIRE has conducted five flight demonstrations with Air New Zealand Qantas, UnitedAirlines, JapanAirlines (JAL), and SingaporeAirlines on oceanic routes. The oceanic routes have a culture which accepts changes, and has the most modern aircraft fleet, as well as many advanced ocean ground automation systems. The five flights demonstrated the maximum potential for environmental efficiency. For example, JAL flight J077 from Honolulu, U. S. to Kansai, Japan, on the 10th of October2009 succeeded in a4,825kg fuel consumption reduction; in other words, a 15,247kg CO2 emission reduction (Funai, 2010). The flight was fueled with the latest on-board loads data, used the closest runway, followed shorter departure routes adjusted by the U. S. Air Force, took a User Preferred Route for the oceanic phase ofthe flight with a dynamic airborne re-route pro­cedure instead of a route determined by 24-hours old climate data, arrived with Continue Descended Approach, and optimized a flap/ undercarriage/ thrust-reverse operation.

CAFFI: CAAFI has been working to lead development and deployment of alternative jet fuels for commercial aviation since 2006 under the leadership and sponsorship ofthe FederalAviation

Administration (FAA), Airports Council Inter­national - North America (ACI-NA), Aerospace IndustriesAssociation (AIA) and theAir Transport Association of America (ATA). “The coalition of airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, energy producers, researchers, international participants, and U. S. government agencies” has accelerated preparation for alternative fuel introduction (Mau­rice, 2010). For example, any slight change to ajet fuel needs a certification approval because of the strict priority to safety in this sector, and this ap­proval is usually a long procedure. ASTM D7566, which is a specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons accommo­dates up to 50% blends of conventional aviation turbine fuel with synthesized hydrocarbon blend components produced from coal, natural gas, or biomass using the Fischer-Tropsch process, was approved in 2009 with an exceptionally fast pro­cedural speed because of supports to evaluation and qualification of alternative fuels by CAAFI and other agencies (Rumizen, 2009). In CAAFI, the FAA leads the Environmental team and the Certification-Qualification team, AIA leads the R&D Team, and ATA and ACI-NA comprise the Business & Economic team. Shell, which has contributed to the fuel readiness level of the Fischer-Tropsch process and other alternative fuels, is an active member of CAAFI, as well as various international aviation alternative fuel projects: FAA-PARTNER, ASTM, CRC, IATA & EU programs SWAFEA and Alfa-Bird (Boul - dreay, 2010).

* Inside stands for “Inside Aerospace” held by AIAA on the 11th and 12th, May, 2010. CAIR - Feb and May stand for “International Seminar on Aviation and Climate Change” on February 18th, 2010, and an “Aviation Environment Workshop” on May 19th, 2010 held by Authors.

In addition to the projects in the Table 2, there is an interesting initiative within UK, Sustainable Aviation, which brings together the UK’s leading airlines, airports, aerospace manufacturers and air navigation service providers. The sorts of agents involved in the initiative is typical as for aviation but the aim ofthis initiative is broad. The initiative sets a series of eight goals and 34 commitments relating to economic, environmental and social aspects of aviation. The initiative is for the long term sustainability ofthe UK aviation industry but provides interesting and important reports about alternative fuels, CO2 efficient airport operation etc. through its homepage (Sustainable Aviation homepage). The initiative is strong and leads the government (Sunetra, 2010).