AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT 1.qxp_Finance 21/06/2022 16:41 Page 1
SUSTAINABILITY
Carbon Offsetting: How Does it Work & Who Does it Help? The term ‘Carbon Offsetting’ has been floating around in Business Aviation for a while, but what exactly does it mean, and does it really make a difference? Matt Harris spoke with three program providers to get a clearer picture… s the National Business Aviation Association made a bold commitment at NBAA-BACE 2021 to work towards “net zero” carbon emissions by the year 2050, and various other leading aviation groups joined them, projects and technologies are being researched and developed by various leading airframe and engine manufacturers in Business Aviation. “Sustainability, including the mitigation of climate change, is one of the greatest long-term challenges the world faces,” notes Kennedy Ricci, President, 4AIR, an aviation sustainability company assisting stakeholders in private aviation to implement meaningful sustainability programs. “Although business jets are a relatively small part of the problem, Business Aviation’s history of innovation shows it can play a big role as an incubator of new strategies and technologies.” For the mid-term, these include the development of electric aircraft, while, in the shorter-term, there’s the promotion of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Longer-term hydrogen-powered aircraft may hold the key, with Embraer – among others – known to be exploring concepts. None of these provide an immediate, complete
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solution, though. The industry is several years away from seeing a battery installed in an aircraft that’s capable of flying the types of payloads and distances required by today’s Mid-Size and Large Jet operators. And while Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a very positive step in the right direction, currently private jets are flying with up to 50% SAF blended with traditional fuel. Efforts are underway with the leading engine OEMs to certify 100% SAF blends in their powerplants, but, even then, there’s nowhere near enough SAF produced currently to fuel the world’s Business Aviation turbine fleet – and SAF remains a costly alternative to regular Jet-A fuel.
How to Make a Difference Today
While the industry’s top minds puzzle through these (and other) challenges to drive the industry towards its net zero carbon emissions goal by 2050, a simple, inexpensive option exists for environmentally conscious aircraft owners and operators who want to make a difference now. Those wishing to compensate for their carbon emissions might consider signing up to a carbon offsetting program. While everyone within the industry has heard about Carbon Offsetting, not everybody fully appreciates the workings of the various programs offered www.AVBUYER.com
