Making sustainable choices
At Cobham, we recognise we all have a role to play in protecting our environment. We are committed to making environmentally conscious choices and working together with partners, clients, and communities to operate sustainably for the future.
To us, sustainability means:
Maintaining natural resources and protecting global ecosystems to meet the needs of our present generation, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
To run an environmentally sustainable business, we need our processes, systems and activities to reduce the environmental impact of our facilities and operations. To achieve this, we have identified three key areas in which we can focus our efforts.
It is what we call our ‘three pillars of sustainability’. Our three pillars are:
Reduce & Recycle
- Reduced food waste, non-recyclables and plastic used in catering
- Reduced landfill waste through new waste management system
- Reduced power use through hangar and office fit-out with motion sensitive smart lighting
- Reduced corporate travel through increased use of technology
- Reduced risk to biosecurity: Cobham operates the only AQIS approved private screening point at Perth Airport
- Timber pallets are recycled into a variety of different garden mulches
- Reduced fuel burn
- AVTUR - by flying the most efficient routes and minimising APU use where possible
- DIESEL - minimising fuel uplift at remote sites resulting in reduced carbon emissions from fuel resupply trucks
Replace
- Replacement aircraft: Fleet renewal program with latest generation aircraft that offer lowest emissions in their class
- Replaced office, base and hangar lighting with energy efficient LED
Innovate
- Member of Bioenergy Australia, sitting on their Sustainable Fuel Alliance of Australia & New Zealand
- Participation in other industry bodies focused on introduction of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Bio Fuels)
- Engaging suppliers and using equipment that aligns with our vision and pursuing low emission technologies and initiatives such as carbon offsets and alternative airframe powerplants (hydrogen fuel cell technologies)
Carbon emissions reduction
Approximately 99.5% of Cobham’s greenhouse gas emissions are derived from the consumption of aviation fuel. Reduction in aviation fuel usage is therefore the most tangible way in which Cobham can reduce its carbon footprint. The combined impact of our current initiatives of fleet renewal and minimising APU use are having a tangible impact.
In the 2020/21 National Greenhouse Energy Reporting period we achieved an 11.3% reduction in CO2-e per flying hour and overall saving of 4776t CO2-e when compared to the same period in the previous year. This is even more significant given our flying activity actually increased in the 2020/21 period.
Download our sustainability brochure for more information
Fleet renewal program
Cobham has invested in modern, low carbon emission aircraft for a greener future.
Our single largest sustainability initiative is our fleet renewal program. Recognising that different aircraft types have different carbon footprints, we realised that aircraft selection is key to reducing our impact.
Our fleet renewal program involves replacing retired aircraft with Bombardier Q400 and Embraer E190 aircraft.
Q400 and E190 aircraft offer outstanding airfield performance, enhanced operational reliability and low carbon emissions. The Q400 turboprop has the lowest fuel consumption per passenger of any turboprop in the industry. The Embraer E190 can fly faster and higher with lower refuelling demands compared to similar sized aircraft operating in the FIFO market, reducing the need for additional fuel uplift on regional routes and therefore reducing CO2 emissions by up to 15% per trip.
– Cobham E190 aircraft - Modern jet engine technology enables full passenger uplift, increased speed and low carbon emissions.
– Cobham Q400 aircraft - Class leading turbo-prop aircraft enabling full passenger uplift, jet-like speed and industry low carbon emissions.
Partnerships in sustainability
Cobham is a member of Bioenergy Australia, an organisation focused on accelerating Australia’s energy transformation to bio-based fuel, gas, heat and power. We are also a part of their Sustainable Aviation Fuel Alliance of Australia and New Zealand working group, set up to provide a collaborative environment to advance sustainable aviation fuel production, policy, education and marketing in Australia and New Zealand.
One of Bioenergy Australia’s focus areas is green aviation fuel production (bio fuels) which is a key area of interest for us as we continue to pursue sustainable options in our operations.
It is recognised that different aircraft types have different carbon footprints which means that the introduction of the Q400 and E190 aircraft has been an important part of reducing our impact.
Our Q400 and E190 aircraft offer outstanding airfield performance, enhanced operational reliability and low carbon emissions. The Q400 turboprop has the lowest fuel consumption per passenger of any turboprop in the industry. Meanwhile, the Embraer E190 can fly further distances compared to similar sized aircraft operating in the FIFO market, reducing the need for additional fuel uplift on regional routes and therefore reducing CO2 emissions by up to 15% per trip.
