Avionics News October 2021 - 62

BUSINESS AVIATION
Continued from page 61
limited supply. Some OEMs deliver new business
aircraft with a full load of SAF. Business aircraft
operators also take advantage of book-and-claim
programs through which the operator purchases
traditional fuel at SAF prices where SAF is not
available, receives environmental credit for using the
SAF, and SAF is later claimed at a location where it is
available.
SAF producers continue to ramp up production.
According to the Commercial Aviation Alternative
Fuels Initiative, producers have the potential to
distribute more than 1 billion gallons of SAF annually
globally by 2025.
Infrastructure and operations
Business aviation organizations, including
operators and manufacturers, the Federal Aviation
Administration, and other stakeholders continue
to develop technology and procedures to improve
efficiency and reduce emissions. These projects are
often long-game initiatives, as changes to navigation
routes and other operational procedures require
extensive coordination between stakeholders or rely
on widespread adoption of improved navigational
technology.
Global market-based measures
Market-based measures are typically either
emissions trading schemes or offsetting programs.
While certain operations are subject to either the
European Union Emissions Trading System or the
ICAO Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for
International Aviation, many U.S.-based business
aircraft operators voluntarily participate in offsetting
programs.
" Despite new technology and the increasing use of
SAF, you will inevitably be left with some emissions,
so industry is looking to offset whatever cannot
be reduced, " said Stewart D'Leon, the National
Business Aviation Association's director of technical
operations.
As one example, NetJets' Blue Skies carbon offset
program, launched in 2015, has reportedly neutralized
over 65,000 tons of carbon dioxide, committed to
offsetting all administrative and training flights in
the U.S. beginning in 2021. The Blue Skies program
features hourly rates from $25.58 per flight hour in a
Phenom 300 to $68.72 per flight hour in a Global 6000.
62 avionics news * october 2021
Carbon offset programs can be difficult to
conceptualize. How does an added $25.58 per hour fee
save the planet? Those fees support forest protection,
renewable energy distribution, and other projects
with tangible impacts on carbon emissions and other
community benefits.
Blue Skies alone supports four programs, including
a wind farm in Oklahoma that provides sustainable
energy to 46,000 homes, not to mention well-paying
local jobs.
The International Business Aviation Council
recently partnered with Carbon Trade eXchange to
provide business aircraft operators an easy-to-use
voluntary carbon credit exchange platform. Kurt
Edwards, director general of IBAC, noted a benefit
of working with CTX is that the projects to be offset
already exist, they aren't just dreams of what could be,
and the operator receives certification of purchased
offsets as proof for passengers, customers or auditors.
The new IBAC Carbon Credit Exchange collaboration
provides a reliable resource to transact offsets and
choose from thousands of projects that can align with
company environmental strategies.
Industry accreditation programs
As business aviation continues on sustainability
initiatives, operators and other businesses seek ways
to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.
Earlier this year, IBAC announced its new
Standards & Training for Aviation Responsibility and
Sustainability, or STARS. The program complements
the existing International Standards for Business
Aircraft Operations and International Standards for
Business Aircraft Handlers but can also act as a standalone
standard for organizations outside the scope of
IS-BAO or IS-BAH.
The program focuses on sustainability efforts as
well as social efforts, including diversity, equity and
inclusion.
" The specific areas of focus include developing
a sustainability policy, appointing a sustainability
champion, sustainability awareness, water
management, waste management, operational fuel
monitoring, the use of market-based measures
as recommended practices toward reducing
environmental impact and increasing sustainability
focus, and certainly include the use of SAF as part of
the best practices for STARS. If it's not available at
your airport, there will be book and claim options, as
well as carbon offsetting the carbon dioxide emissions
once other means to lower the carbon footprint have
Avionics News October 2021

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