Estimation of vertical and horizontal distribution of takeoff and climb NOx emission for commercial aircraft

• NOx emissions are investigated in terms of vertical and horizontal distance.
• The CFM56-7B26 series engine and ten B737-800 aircraft are considered.
• Actual flight data records and the ICAO emission database are used.
• Averaged takeoff and climb NOx emissions are found to be 28.1 kg and 27.6 kg.
• The NOx emissions for an aircraft per km of altitude are between 2 and 3 kg.

An investigation of takeoff and climb NOx emissions is reported for a twin-engine, narrow-body, short-to-medium haul commercial aircraft, B737-800. Ten randomly selected flights are considered for two independent domestic routes. The study is based on two approaches: actual flight data records and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) emission database. First, an empirical model is established in order to identify the relationship between fuel flow and a NOx emission index. Next, the NOx emissions are analyzed through the vertical air region and the horizontal distance from the runway. Averaged takeoff and climb NOx emissions for equal vertical regions for each route are found as 27.0 kg and 24.8 kg through the developed models for two routes, A and B, respectively. The results are also compared to those given in the ICAO database which utilizes standard takeoff and climb emission indices.