A Comparison of Temporally Dynamic Life Cycle Assessment Methods for Ecological Evaluation in Aviation

Abstract

Most Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) in aviation are static and do not adequately reflect the long life cycles of aircraft and associated temporal impacts of emissions. However, these temporal aspects will become more important in the future, as the concept of freedom in the climate crisis is now joined by a revolutionary factor, which states that the timing of certain emissions and their consequences will play an increasingly important role in the assessment of aircraft. There are various dynamisation methods that can extend classical LCAs. A literature review including a list of benefits and limitations should provide information on which dynamic methods are particularly suitable for aviation. Especially in the aviation sector, the dynamic life cycle inventory offers great potential for mapping and evaluating the operational life of an aircraft in more detail. A thorough examination, for example with the help of a discrete-event simulation, can therefore offer the possibility of significantly improving the accuracy and quality of the LCA results and thus generate more extensive insights into the ecological impact of aircraft.