China Airlines previously introduced the first A340-300 trans-Pacific climate observation aircraft in 2012. The addition of two more A330-300 observation aircraft in July this year makes China Airlines the first Asian airline to assign two aircraft models to Pacific climate observation. The scope of observations has also been expanded to include Oceania, a demonstration of China Airlines' proactive contribution to international environmental protection and commitment to protecting planet Earth as part of its corporate social responsibility. 

 

The Pacific Greenhouse Gases Measurement (PGGM) project, launched as a joint initiative between China Airlines, the Environmental Protection Administration of the Executive Yuan and National Central University, first began taking measurements with an A340-300 aircraft (B-18806) in 2012. Between July 2012 and June 2016, the A340-300 carried out 2,445 flights collecting data on high-altitude gases to provide local and overseas research organizations with important material for analysis.

 

The success of the project led to China Airlines being invited to add two A330-300 aircraft to observation efforts and contribute to global research on environmental protection. The required instruments were installed on the first aircraft (B-18317) on July 7, 2016, and it will begin carrying out its observation mission right away; for the other aircraft (B-18316) installation is scheduled to begin in mid-2017. The A330-300 aircraft's operating area covers Asia as well as Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. The climate observations will therefore cover an even broader area while continuing to assist with climate observations over the Pacific.

 

The In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System (IAGOS) on the China Airlines passenger aircraft is installed in the electronics bay underneath the cockpit. A probe extending beyond the fuselage collects high-altitude gases during the flight. After landing, the data is automatically transmitted to a European research center via satellite communications and made available to scientific units worldwide studying global warming and climate change; the EPA and National Central University use the data collected from aircraft, the FormoSat-3 satellite, ground-based meteorological stations and observations at sea to analyze sources and paths of air pollution. The information is then used for formulating air pollution control policies. (2016/07/11)