From - Wed May 07 23:22:17 1997
To: computvl@ix.netcom.com
From: rcaa@accessone.com (Regional Commission on Airport Affairs)
Subject: 747 air pollution and etc.

Dear Lenora Porcella:

        I received an e-mail forwarded from Jack Saporito, Director of ARCO
of Chicago's O'Hare that asked for the sources of the data on comparisons
between 747 takeoff air pollution and lawnmowers.

        The 747 data comes from FAA/EPA required new aircraft engine
certification which is a requirement for emission reduction milestones. The
data is then published in two places:  FAEED (Federal Aviation Engine
Emissions Database) and EDMS (Emissions and Dispersion Modeling System, the
standard airport air pollution model).  I reviewed EDMS 944 and the older
source EPA's AP 42 Volume II Mobile Sources 1985 emission data and compared
the nitrogen oxide takeoff rate with full power 4 stroke lawn mowers
emission data provided to me by EPA Region X Office of Air Quality Planning
(John Bregar, Ed Jones, Wayne Elson and Bill Ryan, any of whom can be
reached at (206) 553-1200).  The conclusion was that a one-minute 747
takeoff with 100% power in nitrogen oxide levels (NOx) was equal to 1.5
million 4 stroke mowers operating at once in a one-minute time period.  The
comparison to cars is similar, except that I used AAMA 1994 "NEW" AUTOMOBILE
EMISSION REDUCTION GOALS FOR CARBON MONOXIDE AND NOX
(not feeling too bad about using a new car since when the aircraft engines
are tested, they are brand new and I will bet they get dirtier quicker than
our cars and whose cowlings are probably cleaned and checked for emissions
much less often than our tailpipes!!!)  21,530 cars is compared to a DC-10 2
minute takeoff for NOx and approximately 8,000 cars for two minutes at idle
power (30%) for aircraft and 30 mph for cars in carbon monoxide (no cold
temps).  

     If you would like more information, please call me.  

Debi L. DesMarais, President of C.A.S.E.
daytime phone:  (206) 824-3120 
e-mail: rcaa@accessone.com
after 3:00 p.m. (206) 529-8407 FAX (206) 824-3451 or (206) 529-8452 

                          ***

One 747 take-off is equalt to operating over two-million lawnmowers for
20 minutes.

One DC-10 take-off's pollution is equal to 21,530 cars driving one mile
at 30 M.P.H.