Group Convened At TAG Farnborough Airport In Advance Of EBACE 2019

The global coalition of business aviation organizations behind the sustainable alternative jet fuel initiative joined forces late last week at TAG Farnborough Airport to take the next important step in its journey to a lower carbon future.

Since the launch of the sustainable alternative jet fuel (SAJF) initiative and Business Aviation Guide to the Use of Sustainable Alternative Fuel in 2018, the SAJF story and the Business Aviation Commitment to Climate Change have gained global momentum. Participating in the EU Sustainable Energy Week under the theme “Shaping the EU’s Energy Future,” global business aviation and community leaders discussed the path forward for the continued adoption of SAJF in Europe during a day-long, multifaceted event.

Aircraft from major manufacturers, such as Bombardier, Gulfstream, Cirrus, Embraer, Piaggio, Dassault and Textron Aviation, fuelled up on SAJF at airports across Europe and the United States -- including TAG Farnborough Airport, England (EGLF); Caen - Carpiquet Airport, France (LFRK); Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden (ESSA); and Republic Airport, Farmingdale, NY (KFRG) at Sheltair--for demonstration flights showcasing the viability of sustainable alternative jet fuel.

SAJF has been made available at these airports specifically for aircraft manufacturers and operators to collectively fly-in to Europe’s annual meeting place for the business aviation community, EBACE in Geneva.

"Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuels are key in attaining our goals laid out in the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change," said EBAA Secretary-General, Athar Husain Khan welcoming guests to the event. "We stand ready and extend our hand to regulators, operators and media alike to help advise, inform and educate on the use of Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel (SAJF), our commitment on Climate Change and our ongoing efforts to reduce our environmental impact.”

"As the first business aviation airport in the world to achieve certified carbon neutrality, we are proud to be hosting and participating in today’s event and welcome this initiative to provide Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuels,' said TAG Farnborough Airport CEO Brandon O’Reilly. Along with our customers, we are eager to see efficient and cost-effective availability of this fuel.”

"Sustainable Aviation Fuels and airframe and engine technology improvements are key to aviation minimising its carbon footprint. Business aviation aircraft have no alternative to liquid fuel in the near and mid-term and in this regard SAF is the most promising near-term option," said EUROCONTROL Director General, Eamonn Brennan. "Already thousands of commercial flights have demonstrated that these fuels can work. The problem is, the cost of production is still too high for aircraft operators. The challenge of industry and above all governments is to establish clear long-term policy frameworks and find a way of funding transition costs of what is essentially a huge technological change in order to achieve the ICAO 2050 Vision for Sustainable Aviation Fuels.”

The event clearly demonstrated three key points:

• SAJF is safe and does not impact aircraft performance.
• SAJF offers great impact and benefits to the airport and the community, including reduced particulate matter.
• SAJF reflects the commitment by business aviation to aircraft carbon reduction.

Kurt Edwards, IBAC Director General remarked, "Business aviation continues to show the world its commitment to mitigating its contribution to climate change. Fuelling the Future at Farnborough demonstrates the industry’s strong interest in sustainable aviation fuel, an innovative technology available now. The initiative supports the 2009 Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change and similar global efforts with other industry sectors and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Use of sustainable aviation fuels is a critical measure to address the global challenge of climate change."

"The business aviation community has a long and successful history of innovation when it comes to reducing the industry’s carbon footprint. Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuels are a key element in this important effort, in Europe and beyond,” said Ed Bolen, NBAA president and CEO.

Business aviation is stepping up to societal expectations around the world, and the coalition is calling on policy makers, business and community leaders in Europe to support the swift and ambitious deployment of sustainable alternative jet fuels.

(Source: GAMA news release. Image provided by SAJF)

FMI: www.eusew.eu