Pilots hit back over air travel greenhouse emissions 'myth'

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Research published by the British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa) said people who attacked air travel used "half truths and untruths" and made passengers feel guilty about taking a flight.

The union, which represents most of Britain's 10,000 pilots, claims aviation has become a 'scapegoat' for global warming.

Pilots: claim aviation has become a "scapegoat" for global warming

A report presented to the Government by Balpa questioned the boast by railway firms that trains were less polluting than aircraft.

It said: "While it is true that trains are less polluting than aircraft per passenger per kilometre, that is not true of long journeys over 800 kilometres and it is not true of the new generation of high speed trains in use on mainland Europe and soon to come to Britain."

Captain Mervyn Granshaw, the union's chairman, said: "Something certainly has to be done about the rising level of carbon dioxide emissions and we will play our part, but we cannot accept the false accusations our study exposes.

"No-one is calling for any dramatic cutback in car travel, the biggest polluter of all transport modes. In the UK we are embarked on another major road building programme. Air travel has just been an easy target.

"Our report clearly shows that technological advances now being researched will cut aircraft emissions still further. It would be inappropriate therefore, and premature, to restrict air transport at this time.

"The damage that would be done not only to our industry but to tourism and to the economies of developing nations would be enormous.

"Our message to all air passengers is to stop feeling guilty about flying. Passengers going by high speed train to the south of France would be responsible for emitting more carbon dioxide than if they had flown there."