Aircraft Drinking Water

Commercial aviation helps drive more than 10M American jobs and 5 cents of every dollar of U.S. GDP
Commercial aviation drives more than $1 trillion per year in economic activity
In 2012, U.S. airlines moved more than 48,000 tons of cargo per day
In 2012, the value of a kilogram of U.S. merchandise exported by air averaged 121 times the value exported by sea
For every 100 airline jobs, some 360 are supported outside of the airline industry
Federal taxes constitute $61 – or 20% – of the price of a typical $300 domestic round-trip ticket
In 2011, U.S. airlines carried 16 percent more passengers and cargo using 10 percent less fuel than in 2000
Domestically, airlines drive 5% of economic activity but account for 2% of man-made GHG emissions
From 2000-2011, airlines reduced GHG emissions by 11% while transporting 16% more passengers and cargo
From 1975-2011, U.S. airlines and their partners reduced significant noise exposure by 99%
Commercial air travel is the safest form of intercity transportation in the United States
In the most recent decade, scheduled air service on U.S. airlines was seven times safer than in the 1970s
From 2000-2012, U.S. airlines improved the on-time arrival rate from 72.6% to 81.9%
From 2000-2012, U.S. airlines reduced the flight cancellation rate sharply from 3.30% to 1.29%
Airfares are a bargain: From 2000-2012, U.S. CPI rose 33% while average domestic fare rose just 13%
Adjusted for inflation, the average round-trip domestic airfare fell 15% from 2000
2007 domestic flight delays cost the United States approximately $31 billion
In 2012, the value of U.S. merchandise exported by air reached an all-time high of $427B
In 2012, U.S. exports of air-travel services reached an all-time high of $39.5B, driving a $5.1B trade surplus
In 2012, U.S. passenger and cargo airlines spent more than $50B on fuel, averaging 36% of operating expenses
In 2012, U.S. airlines posted the lowest annual rate of mishandled baggage ever recorded
FAA projects U.S. air travel demand to top 1 billion passengers in 2027
In 2012, US airlines flew 83.4 million passengers in scheduled international service - a record high
In 2012, the total value of merchandise exported from or imported to the United States by air exceeded $927 billion
In 2012, 7.15 teragrams of merchandise was exported from or imported to the United States by air

	Aircraft Drinking Water
	PubZone1 The core mission of the airline industry is to provide safe, affordable, and reliable air transportation services. This mission extends to providing clean, safe drinking water for passengers and employees. In more than 60 years of commercial airline operations, there has been no documented case of any outbreak of illness or a public health threat resulting from the consumption of drinking water on commercial aircraft flown by U.S. carriers, and the A4A member airlines continue to take steps to ensure the ongoing quality of aircraft drinking water. Aircraft Drinking Water Systems: How do they Work? The aircraft used by A4A members employ closed-loop water systems with various size water tanks depending on the aircraft make, model and configuration. The water tanks are generally small due to the limited on-board demand for water in the galleys and lavatory wash basins (toilets are served by a separate system), as well as the need to limit excess weight. For example, Boeing 737 aircraft, which can hold up to approximately 140 passengers, typically have water tanks with a capacity between 20 and 60 gallons. Given the small size of aircraft water systems, water is replenished regularly from regulated airport public water supplies. An aircraft water system is refilled by personnel using FDA-regulated equipment and approved refilling procedures. Aircraft Drinking Water Regulation Aircraft drinking water has long been regulated by the federal government. Beginning in 1979, the EPA issued Water Supply Guidance requiring carriers to implement operation and maintenance programs to ensure safe drinking water. A revised guidance was issued in 1986 and carriers revised their programs to comply with the guidance. In 2003, EPA undertook a review of the aircraft drinking water program and decided to promulgate a new drinking water regulation specifically tailored to aircraft. As part of the process, A4A members entered into Administrative Orders on Consent (AOCs) with EPA to further refine the maintenance and operation programs, and to develop monitoring and disinfection protocols and procedures. After significant cooperation and collaboration with the airlines, EPA issued a Final Aircraft Drinking Water Rule in 2009. The Aircraft Drinking Water Rule went into effect on October 19, 2011. Under the rule, each airline conducts a thorough program consisting of water sampling, disinfection and flushing of the aircraft water system, and operation and maintenance of the aircraft and water supply system. PubZone2	A4A supports a truly comprehensive, meaningfully balanced U.S. energy policy and is committed to protecting our planet.