Measures against ultrafine particles

• Limiting use of engines during taxiing
  At the end of 2022, the rules for taxiing at Schiphol were tightened. In principle, pilots must taxi using one engine. Or, if an aircraft has more than two engines, using as few engines as possible. By using fewer engines, aircraft emit fewer emissions. Estimates show that this uses up to 30 per cent less fuel. Arriving aircraft in particular will make a difference. Departing aircraft must warm up the engine for several minutes for safety reasons. The pilot decides when to turn the aircraft engines on and off. Schiphol will be actively monitoring this.
  
  
• Reduced use of auxiliary power unit
  The rules for using the aircraft's auxiliary power unit (APU) during parking have been tightened. In April 2023, the allowed running time while parking pre-departure will go down from 10 to 5 minutes. This will reduce kerosene consumption and therefore emissions. Schiphol will actively monitor this.
  
  
• Provision of PCA
  At a number of gates, we will offer 'pre-conditioned air' (PCA) as of summer 2023. PCA ensures parked aircraft have fresh air on board. By using PCA, the aircraft's auxiliary engine doesn't need to be switched on as long, thus reducing emissions. By 2024, Schiphol aims to offer this at all aircraft stands.
  
  
• Changes to departure procedures
  We are making changes to the departure procedures at several gates. These changes mean that employees at these gates maintain a larger distance between themselves and running jet engines. One of the changes is turning a push-back into push-pull. This means that an aircraft is pushed back, but also pulled forward a bit, allowing the jet engines to be switched on further away. In addition, the plane no longer needs to make a turn near the gates using its own thrust. This adjustment has been approved by Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL). We have been making use of push-pull at gates D23 and D44 since 14 June.
  We are waiting for LVNL approval for further adjustments. We are also going to assess the impact of these measures on air quality. Together with the sector, we’re going to create a plan to optimise the departure procedures at the airport in order to improve air quality.
  
  
• Research lab on the apron
  Since February 2023, we have been using gates D23 and D44 as little as possible. These gates were widely used because of the short walking distance for passengers. But because they are located at an angle, the push-back procedure is unfavourable and engines start directly in front of the opposite gate. It is suspected that ultrafine particles may linger at this location. We are therefore deploying the gates as little as possible until we know more. And if they are deployed, it will be with a modified departure procedure.
  Because it is now less crowded at D23 and D44, we have the space to test our new measures. This is the location of the research lab on the apron. We will be conducting all kinds of experiments to test the effect of our measures in a quick and thorough way.
  
  
  
• Electric vehicles
  You can see more and more vehicles powered by electricity rather than diesel or petrol on the apron. Baggage tractors, scissor lifts, hotel shuttles – an increasing number of these vehicles are electric. The number of fossil fuel-powered vehicles will continue to decline over the coming years. There are currently 750 charging stations at airside, but Schiphol is investing in more in order to support this transition.
  Read more about electric vehicles
  
  
• Electric buses on the apron
  All buses in the runway area are electric. There are no more diesel-powered vehicles here.
  Read more about electric buses on the apron
  
  
• Shore power and e-GPUs
  Shore power is available at 78 of the 128 gates. This number is set to grow over the coming years. Shore power means that airport staff can connect parked aircraft to electricity. The planes then no longer need to switch on their auxiliary engine in order to have electricity on board. We’re also conducting a pilot study with Ground Power Units that run on electricity rather than diesel. In collaboration with KLM, 30 e-GPUs have been ordered to replace the diesel variant. Combined with the shore power points available at several piers, aircraft at the gate will be provided with emission-free energy throughout Schiphol. It is mandatory to use electric ground equipment if it is available.
  More about shore power and e-GPUs
  
  
• Sustainable taxiing
  Between now and 2030, sustainable taxiing must, whenever possible, become standard procedure at Schiphol. This is stated in the sustainable taxiing roadmap that Schiphol published in 2021 together with Corendon, Transavia, KLM, Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) and dnata. Sustainable taxiing is when a taxibot, a special towing vehicle, takes an aircraft from the stand to the runway (and vice versa). This means that the aircraft engines can stay switched off for a longer period of time. In 2022, Schiphol purchased two taxibots to conduct follow-up trials at the airport. Each successful trial phase will transition into a broader standard process.
  Read more about sustainable taxiing
  
  
• More sustainable buildings
  More and more buildings at Schiphol are being equipped with thermal energy storage (TES). This is a sustainable system that stores energy in the form of heat and cold in the soil. As a result, we need much less gas. Using TES reduces the emission of ultrafine particles from gas-fired installations. If we do need to use gas, some of what we use is biogas.
  Read more about TES at Schiphol

• Short distances by train
  Schiphol is an advocate for travellers opting for trains rather than planes when it comes to short distances (up to 700 km). From Schiphol and other stations in the Netherlands, there are trains to Antwerp, Brussels, Paris, London and a variety of destinations in Germany.
  
  
• Sustainable fuel
  Sustainable aviation fuel will help to lower ultrafine particle emissions in aviation. Biokerosene is already available, including at Schiphol, and it has proven to be safe. It is now a matter of stimulating the market and developing other types of sustainable fuel, such as synthetic fuel. That’s why Schiphol, together with other parties in the aviation sector, is investing in the development and scaling up of sustainable aviation fuel. An agreement has been made to increase the proportion of sustainable fuel at Schiphol. The goal is for 14% of the fuel used at the airport to be sustainable fuel by 2030.
  Read more about biokerosene
  Read more about synthetic kerosene
  
  
• Encouraging electric flight
  In the long term, electric flight is going to help reduce ultrafine particle emissions from planes. Electric flight is still in development and Schiphol is supporting it.
  Read more about Schiphol and electric flight
  
  
• Encouraging cleaner aircraft
  The fewer emissions a plane landing at Schiphol produces, the less it has to pay. The cleanest and quietest aircraft pay 45% of the standard tariff. This is how Schiphol wants to encourage the purchase of cleaner planes.
  Read more about how cleaner aircraft pay less
  
  
• Flying more efficiently
  Schiphol is committed to flying in a more efficient manner. This reduces emissions, including ultrafine particles. Flying more efficiently can be made possible by redesigning European airspace and by optimising flight paths.
  Read more about flying more efficiently

• Encouraging the use of public transport and bicycles Schiphol encourages travellers to come to the airport by public transport instead of by car. The train station is located below the terminal and connects many cities directly with Schiphol. We are also an advocate of extending the Noord/Zuid metro line and we encourage employees to come to Schiphol by public transport or by bicycle.
  Read more about how Schiphol is encouraging the use of public transport
  
  
• Electric buses More than 200 Connexxion buses have been driving at and around Schiphol since March 2018. And that number keeps on growing. It’s one of Europe’s biggest electric bus fleets.
  Read more about electric buses in the area
  
  
• Electric taxis The official Schiphol taxis have used sustainable vehicles since 2014. In total, there are 145 electric taxis (mainly Teslas) and 40 taxi vans that run on biogas. Other taxi companies at the airport are required to be affiliated with STC (an organisation that coordinates taxis at Schiphol) and must meet specific sustainability requirements. This additional taxi fleet consists of another 397 zero-emission vehicles.
  Read more about electric taxis

It's voluntary, but if you work airside, we recommend that you wear an FFP2 nasal mask. Check with your employer about this. If you wear your mask as instructed on clean-shaven skin, it can protect up to 94% against ultrafine dust. Wear the mouth-nose mask when you are near aircraft and diesel engine exhaust. Also wear it in places with heavy traffic where the RH road is canopied. And otherwise at all times when you find it necessary yourself.

Personal Respiratory Protection Pilot
In the summer of 2023, Schiphol launched a study into personal respiratory protection in which a number of employees tested various masks while working. By the middle of 2024, we will know which masks would be most suitable for which jobs. We are thus investigating how personal respiratory protection can be deployed to prevent as much as possible employees from being exposed to ultrafine dust.