Towards a Zero-Emission Aviation Environment - Study guide

After completing the course, the student:

• has a well-rounded understanding of global consensus on the treats of climate change and targets for net zero-emissions, and the share that transport and aviation have in producing greenhouse gas emissions
• is able to understand and apply the key concepts and factors related to the zero-emission initiatives within aviation context and value chain in her/his thinking and reasoning
• is able to recognize business opportunities related to decarbonizing aviation
• can skillfully assess the appropriateness of aviation environmental sustainability and zero-emission initiatives of aviation industry stakeholders
• is able to understand and use evaluation methods for environmental assessment and management
• is able to understand and address specific challenges related to sustainable aviation fuels and technologies in aviation organizations
• is able to identify the stakeholders, their purpose and roles related to business practices in aviation environment sustainability
• is able to participate in a project or team in decarbonizing aviation
• is able to communicate aviation environmental sustainability messages

No prerequisites.

Introduction to the global challenge and the impact of the transportation industry on natural resources consumption, environment and sustainability
- Sustainability, sustainable transport and net zero emissions
- The key environmental and sustainability impacts of the transport industry
- Regulatory framework, conventions, agreement’s, forums and targets for decarbonizing transport industry
- The role of aviation industry and how decarbonizing aviation form part of overall sustainability and towards net zero emissions
- Carbon offsets, the effectiveness and the risk of “greenwashing”
- Increased demand of transport with strong dependence in fossil fuels
- Fast historical aviation technological developments behind the fast growth
- Present track for EU climate targets

A transition to carbon-neutral flying in aviation industry
- Challenges with aviation emissions comparing to other industries
- Newer more fuel-efficient aircraft (Boeing 777X and Airbus A350) and optimization of in-flight procedures, ground operations and aircraft weight reduction (count only less than 5% of aviation total CO2 emissions)
- New technological developments (electric, hybrid-/electric and hydrogen powered aircraft, blended wing body)

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)
- Differences with fossil-based jet fuel and SAF (similar CO2 emissions from the back of the jet engine)
- The role of SAF for decarbonizing air travel at scale today and in the future (net climate effect)
- Life-cycle emissions of SAF
- The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard, present limitations and future capability
- Description of SAF, production methods, feedstock source, technical challenges and long-term
- Sustainability criteria and impact on the economy (sustainability, competing demand, logistics and viability)
- Technological maturity, pathways and SAF potential (availability and better use, demand and government policies)
- SAF production cost and different pathways

Pathway towards net zero emissions in aviation
- Investments into new more efficient aircraft propulsion systems and SAF
- The volumes of sustainable jet fuel needed, financial and societal impacts as a potential contribution to local economic development
- Established and future ways of measuring sustainability performance of companies
- The implications and key benefits of sustainability management in different aviation industry sectors
- Impact of different global stakeholders across aviation fuel value chain
- Three recommended steps…

The student is able to define the key concepts of sustainable aviation. S/he recognizes the main stakeholders and their purpose in the net zero-emission aviation environment. S/he can describe the different elements, relation to business and management from the viewpoint of decarbonizing aviation.

In addition to the competences in grade 1, the student can apply the key concepts of sustainable aviation in her/his thinking and reasoning. S/he can understand the impact of technological development and pathways towards zero-emission aviation environment related to her/his business and management.

In addition to the competences in grades 1 and 3, the student can analyse the purpose of an organisation’s stakeholders and their role in decarbonizing aviation. S/he develops business and management from the viewpoints of net zero-emission and is able to recognize business opportunities related to zero-emission environment in the aviation industry S/he is able to think critically and solve problems in a changing operational environment.

If students have acquired the required competence in previous work tasks, recreational activities or on another course, they can show their competence via a demonstration and thus progress faster through their studies. More information and instructions for recognizing and validating prior learning (RPL) are available at MyNet.

When the implementation type of the course is contact, online or blended it is required that the student is present during those teaching hours that are marked in the study schedule. If you are absent more than 25%, your grade will be lowered by one. If you are absent more than 50%, the course is failed.

Learning virtually including assignments and independent study based on given instructions and materials.

Johanna Rajakangas-Tolsa

Main reading Source: Green Aviation (2016), Blockley, R., Agarwal, R., Collier, F., Schaefer, A. & Seabridge, A.

Instructors´ own material
Visiting lecturers and professionals materials
Academic articles
Companies´ web portals
Relevant media, news agencies, quality press, etc.
Material produced by students
Industry related reports and statistics
Data from H-H provided statistical databases

guest speakers on course materials from aviation companies aviation-related work cases

Pasila Campus

no exam
Final Essay or presentation
Individual learning assessment

English

Aviation professionals from the field

13.01.2025 - 14.03.2025

individual assignments quiz learning diary writing report writing

02.01.2025 - 10.01.2025

1. period in 2025, 8 weeks of studying virtually

Course content:
An overview of global transportation and sustainability
Guest lecturer from EASA; Global challenge and the impact of the transportation industry from an aviation point of view
Guest Lecturer and lessons from German Aerospace Wolfgang Grimme; A transition to carbon-neutral flying in the aviation industry
Sustainable Fuels (SAF)
Pathway toward net zero emissions in aviation

VIRTUAL
MAAVBUM

Heini Noronen-Juhola

61 - 100

Assessment criteria - grade 1
The student can define the key concepts of sustainable aviation. S/he recognizes the main stakeholders and their purpose in the net zero-emission aviation environment. S/he can describe the different elements related to business and management from the viewpoint of decarbonizing aviation.

Assessment criteria - grade 3
In addition to the competencies in grade 1, the student can apply the key concepts of sustainable aviation in her/his thinking and reasoning. S/he can understand the impact of technological development and pathways towards a zero-emission aviation environment related to her/his business and management.

Assessment criteria - grade 5
In addition to the competencies in grades 1 and 3, the student can analyze the purpose of an organization's stakeholders and their role in decarbonizing aviation. S/he develops business and management from the viewpoints of net zero-emission and can recognize business opportunities related to the zero-emission environment in the aviation industry S/he can think critically and solve problems in a changing operational environment.

AVBUM Degree Programme in Sustainable Aviation Business

0.00 cr

5.00 cr

H-5