People & planet
The sky’s the limit
Air travel is something most of us tend to take for granted. We choose our destinations, book our flights and away we go, on holiday or business. But the aviation industry can also be a great force in providing charitable aid and help.
The Dutch organisation Luchtvaart Zonder Grenzen (Aviation Without Borders) is an association of enthusiastic volunteers employed within the aviation sector, who offer their collective knowledge, contacts and facilities for humanitarian purposes around the world.
Into action
It was formed in 1988, taking its initiative from Aviation Sans Frontières in France, and immediately went into action, supplying light aircraft for the United Nations to distribute aid during the famine in Sudan. Operation Lifeline Sudan quickly attracted other pilots to the organisation and other (retired) aviation employees as volunteers. People outside the sector also offered to lend a helping hand. Currently, Luchtvaart Zonder Grenzen (LZG) has approximately 60 volunteers.
LZG lends its expertise and contacts within the sector to facilitate small-scale projects both for itself and other help organisations. It mediates in the provision of pilots and light aircraft to developing countries, arranges freight transport of all sorts of aid and medical equipment, and provides escorts for unaccompanied children on long journeys by air, to undergo an operation for example. Within The Netherlands, LZG organises an annual ‘I Can Fly Day’ for sick and handicapped children, who get to fly as passengers in a light aircraft, among other activities.
Luchtvaart Zonder Grenzen operates wholly irrespective of race, religion, ideology or political persuasion.
Donate now
To donate money and/or Flying Blue Miles to Luchtvaart Zonder Grenzen, or any other AirCares charity, visit www.aircares.nl or make a donation during this flight (see the last page of our shopping section). For more information on LZG, visit www.pzg.nl
APU – OK!
While KLM has made great strides in minimising fuel usage and emissions, Its subsidiary airlines have also been busy with their own corporate social responsibilties. Take KLM Cityhopper, for example.
Aircraft normally rely on an onboard, fuel-powered Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
to generate electricity for air conditioning and temperature control while
waiting for push-back from the gate. By prudent use of mobile and stationary
Ground Power Units (GPUs) and Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) units at the pier and
platform at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol where KLM Cityhopper aircraft arrive
and depart, APU
usage has been substantially reduced over the past year. GPUs are also now standard at all outstations where KLM Cityhopper flies to.
Not using the APU saves fuel, maintenance, and causes less noise and emissions, benefiting ground crew, passengers and, of course, the environment. KLM Cityhopper made a considerable cost-saving in 2009, through less APU usage. In addition a C02 emission reduction was achieved of almost 2.8 million kilograms! Reduced APU usage is just one of many fuel- and C02-saving projects initiated by KLM Cityhopper.
