Business aviation faces headwinds
Is business aviation on a collision course with environmental goals? One side might say yes. Environmental activists are demonstrating at business aviation events and airports. Private flyers face flight-shaming.
Sustainability pressures on business aviation stand out particularly in France. As Thierry Dubois writes in his article about the state of business aviation in France on page 10, opposition Green Party Deputy Julien Bayou has proposed banning business jets and defines them as “including on-demand flights for 60 passengers or less.” Even business jets derived from Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft platforms usually do not include 60 seats.
Dubois points out that “Additional taxes and use restrictions in the country might be the harbinger of a more stringent framework and disincentives for business aviation throughout the entire European Union.”
If sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) was more readily available around the world, that might offset some of the pressure on the industry, but demand outpaces supply and this situation won’t change quickly. Daniel Coetzer, CEO of Titan Europe, quoted in Angus Batey’s article on SAF in Europe on page 11, notes that “SAF is still very difficult to find; supply is still very unreliable at business aviation airports, unless you want to buy a big stock and keep it—but even then, you’re lucky to find it,” Ensuring reliable supplies of SAF at airports will take time, but sustainability progress flourishes elsewhere—and not just recently.
The business aviation industry has been proactive on this issue for years—including implementing technologies to reduce fuel burn and emissions. Aviation Partners installed its first winglets on a business jet—the Gulfstream II—in the early 1990s. That was before it formed a joint venture with Boeing. Now, curved wing tips are a regular feature on business and commercial aircraft.
The quest for better performance has steadily continued. In 2009, the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change pledged to reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2050.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) recently launched the Sustainable Flight Department Accreditation Program to acknowledge operators who meet or exceed criteria in the following areas: flight, operations, ground support and infrastructure. NBAA is accepting applications (https://bit.ly/41w6Wb9) through May 31.
For those of you attending the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, check out the Sustainability Summit May 23-24 (https://ebace.aero/-2023/events/sustainability-summit/) that is a major part of the program.
Advanced air mobility (AAM) operations should launch in the next few years, enabling a new transportation mode for sustainable short hops. The latest developments will be highlighted at Paris Air Mobility (https://aam.aviationweek.com/en/home.html), which takes place on June 19-22 at the Paris Air Show.
So from taking steps to make today’s operations greener to developing electric-powered transportation modes, progress is happening. The time for action is now.
Clearly a lot is going on. I hope you enjoy this issue.
Best wishes,
Lee Ann ShayEditor In Chief, BCALeeann.shay@aviationweek.com
PS: BCA Podcast: Don’t miss our biweekly podcast! https://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/podcast
