SEA has been a pro-active member of the Environmental Strategy Committee and of ACI Europe’s (the European Airports Association) Technical and Operational Safety Committee for some time now, also participating in specific work groups on environmental issues of particular impact (aircraft noise).
Over the years, we have strengthened our European presence, promoting project-based partnerships with key airports, regional and scientific entities, with a focus on energy, waste and water management, as well as contributing to the development of maintenance and airport infrastructure control system concepts and procedures.
This input continues to feed into the much-needed international dialogue and discussion on best practices to manage environmental issues.
The project OCTAVE (Objective Control for TAlker VErification) was concluded in 2018, focused on the development of a reliable biometric testing system (TBAS = Trusted Biometric Authentication Service), for access to non-monitored sensitive areas as well as to structures and online services.
SEA, as an end-user, has set aside an area of Linate airport as an “ecological island” in order to test the proposed system for the accessibility and control of a managed waste area.
Work continued on the TRANSFORMING TRANSPORT project, in close collaboration with BOEING and JEPPESEN, as part of the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme. Through the use of “Big Data” technology, the project aims to technically and economically optimize mobility and logistics processes and services, improving operational efficiency and mitigating environmental impacts, mainly by reducing CO2 emissions. In 2018, the project successfully passed the first technical and financial assessment by Project Reviewers and the European Commission’s Supervisory Body.
SEA also joined Landside Airport Accessibility (LAirA) consortium, as part of the Central Europe Programme. LAirA aims to reduce the energy use and environmental impacts of transport activities through changes in passenger and airport employee mobility, and new local authority low-carbon mobility planning strategies.
Furthermore, participations have been activated in various new European project proposals with a focus on process and control optimization regarding environmental sustainability, safety, security, critical infrastructures and passenger and freight transport. Such proposals are awaiting positive assessment from the European Commission.