Business aviation has a long track record of adopting technologies early to improve efficiencies. For instance, Aviation Partners installed Blended Winglets on a Gulfstream II in the early 1990s. Numerous avionics offerings that improve safety and/or optimal routing—from head-up displays to moving maps—appeared in business aviation aircraft before their airline counterparts. “We’ve always had that [efficiency] mindset baked into the industry,” says Kurt Edwards, International Business Aviation Council director general. This need for optimizing efficiency translates into reduced carbon emissions, too. Thankfully, the business aviation industry is on target to meet its goals to reduce CO2 emissions by 2050 50% relative to 2005. However, recent emphasis on our warming planet has propelled our industry to do even more. In a recent briefing hosted by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the group announced increasingly stringent goals—so instead of the 50% reduction it now plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is one linchpin for achieving the goals—but that means the industry needs to accelerate the adoption and production of SAF. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is doing just that. It’s the first U.S. airport to test a “collaborative circular economy” to produce SAF. Neste, through its Mahoney Environmental subsidiary, will collect cooking oil from 200 DFW airport vendors and convert it into renewable fuel. Avfuel will deliver it to DFW Corporate Aviation, an FBO at the airport. This creative initiative demonstrates environmental stewardship. Speaking of leadership, I’m thrilled to announce that Robert Sumwalt’s debut Impact column appears in this issue of BCA. Sumwalt, who retired from the National Transportation Safety Board as its chairman at the end of June, each month will share insights intended to help make our industry even safer. Please check it out. As always, I welcome your feedback. Feel free to contact me at bcaeditors@aviationweek.com.
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PS The Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Aviation Fuels is working with suppliers to offer SAF for flights to and from the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland Jan. 17-21, 2022 through book and claim (https://www.futureofsustainablefuel.com/reservemysaf)
Lee Ann Shay Editor In Chief, BCA
