Aircraft manufacturers can deliver quieter, less polluting planes but the government must review its aviation policy to prevent the unrestricted growth in flights cancelling out the environmental benefits of new technology.
There needs to be a new evidence-based approach to including the damage caused by aviation into the analysis of its costs and benefits.
Tax breaks should be stopped (currently it pays no tax on fuel and no VAT on planes, spare parts or tickets) and it should be made to pay the full costs for its activities. Air Passenger Duty is a start, but it would have to be increased many times over to make up for the huge disparities with what car drivers pay, for example.
There should also be restrictions on the numbers of flights at times when they are likely to most disturb people and cause health problems as a result.
