Attorney General Jerry Brown told a news conference at Los Angeles International Airport that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was being petitioned to staunch a "large and rapidly growing source" of emissions.

The move is the latest attempt by California to set the agenda on environmental issues.

A similar petition concerning ocean-going vessels was launched last month, while the state is already suing the EPA for its failure to greenlight tough new standards concerning auto emissions.

"Aviation is a large and rapidly growing source of greenhouse gases and the EPA should have taken action by now to curb these emissions," Brown said.

"Aircraft engines burn massive quantities of fossil fuels and inject greenhouse gas pollution at high altitudes -- right where these emissions have a heightened negative impact."

According to EPA figures cited by Brown, aircraft in 2005 contributed three percent of the United States' total emissions.

The Federal Aviation Administration estimates that emissions from domestic US aircraft will rise 60 percent by 2025.

California's petition requests that the EPA make an explicit finding that greenhouse gasses from aircraft contribute to pollution and to adopt regulations to control emissions.

There are currently no greenhouse gas emissions controls on aircraft and only limited controls for conventional pollutants such as carbon monoxide, a statement from the attorney general's office said.

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