And aircraft carry about 40% of the value of all world trade, driving the “just in time” deliveries critical to productivity improvements. Air transport links our world and is a key tenet of continued economic development and security for the U.S. However, aviation also has environmental impacts – primarily noise and atmospheric emissions. While aircraft noise issues are better known, less focus has been placed on emissions. This article provides a brief overview of important issues regarding aviation emissions.

-  What emissions come from aviation?

-  What determines aviation emissions?

-  What have been the trends in aviation emissions?

-  How do aviation emissions compare to general trends in local air pollutants?

- How do aviation local emissions compare to other transportation sources?

- Can a comparison be made between aviation emissions and non-transportation sources?

- What role does aviation emissions play with regard to greenhouse gas issues?

- How do aviation’s greenhouse gas emissions compare to other transportation sources?

- How are aviation emissions regulated?

- What is being done today to reduce aviation emissions?

-  What steps are being taken to reduce aviation emissions in the longer-term?