Air Navigation Administration Obtains ISO 14001 Environmental Certification

The Air Navigation Administration (ANA) has just obtained ISO 14001 environmental certification for the management of air navigation and airport activities, becoming the first ISO 14001 certified administration in Luxembourg.

Following an external audit conducted on 17 November 2017 by the ESCEM certification body, the ANA received its ISO 14001 version 2015 certificate in February this year.

Reducing the impact on the environment has been a priority for the ANA for many years, with the administration having invested in projects to limit the environmental impact of aeronautical services. The scope is not limited to the Findel airport, but encompasses air navigation missions throughout Luxembourg's airspace. For example, the continuous descent procedures put in place at the end of 2017 have reduced fuel consumption and noise by eliminating the steps used in traditional procedures.

This environmental certification was a joint initiative of ANA management and the Luxembourg Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure. Several actions have been carried out in partnership with the Environment Administration, the State Roads and Bridges Administration, lux-Airport and the Administration of Nature and Forests. Thus, the late lawn mowing practiced on the airport contributes to the preservation of the existing biodiversity on the airport platform. Contrary to the preconceived idea, several endemic species are present on the airport like butterflies.

The seven priorities that have been retained by the ANA are the fight against noise pollution, the quality of water and soil, the sorting of waste, the air quality, the management of flora and fauna, the impact on climate and CO2 emissions. The environmental approach has been a long-term one with ANA having already developed innovative solutions such as LED technology to gradually replace the 2,500 LED lighting lamps. At the heart of the process, the dialogue with local residents' associations helped to better understand the expectations and constraints.

The certification audit has been validated for a period of 3 years. The audit report prepared by ESCEM has produced a very positive assessment that does not identify any non-compliance and highlights 14 main points, including open discussion with stakeholders on night flights, the ambitious environmental policy, the choice of an environmentally friendly de-icing product, the installation of LED lamps on the manoeuvring area, the use of green electricity, selective waste sorting, the acquisition of a first electric car with the installation of a charging station for staff and the conservation of biodiversity on the airport territories with refuges for endangered species.