As Hillsboro Aviation Inc. accepted its first load of "Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel" this month, the fixed-base operator (FBO) — in collaboration with Avfuel Corporation and Neste Oyj—secured the first business aviation foothold for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the US state of Oregon (OR).
Founded in 1980, Hillsboro Aviation is headquartered at the Portland-Hillsboro Airport (KHIO) in Hillsboro, Oregon (OR). With 14 turbine aircraft, it offers comprehensive helicopter and airplane services to domestic and international markets in the government, commercial, and private sectors.
The Pacific Northwest is more than just where we work. It’s where many of our team members call home. Where our parents chose to raise us. And where we choose to raise our families, said Ryan McCartney, VP, and COO of Hillsboro Aviation.
The first 8 000-(US) gallon (≈ 30 280 litres) truckload delivery of SAF to Hillsboro Aviation is just the beginning of the location’s SAF journey.
Our Oregon roots—as a company and as a team—mean we’re passionate about doing what’s right for the environment, and, in turn, what’s right for our team, our customers, and our community. It’s a point of real pride for our team to be the first FBO to welcome SAF supply in Oregon, Ryan McCartney said.
The FBO collaborated with Avfuel and Neste to secure a consistent supply of SAF to better serve its green-minded customers on a regular basis.
Oregon has been a trailblazing state for clean air legislative initiatives, said Keith Sawyer, Avfuel’s Manager of Alternative Fuels.
With one of the highest average blend ratios available in business aviation to date (30/70 SAF to petroleum-based jet fuel), each truckload of Neste MY SAF reduces carbon emissions by 19 tonnes across its lifecycle.
Furthermore, the team at Portland’s Hillsboro Aviation is passionate about environmental conservation, which made it the perfect first FBO partner to establish SAF supply in the state. We are thankful for its team for leading the SAF initiative in the Pacific Northwest as we work tirelessly with Neste to make SAF an available alternative throughout business aviation, Keith Sawyer said.
Today, SAF is seen as the most effective way to reduce the carbon footprint of air travel.
According to Neste, its SAF can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 80 percent compared to fossil jet fuel if used in its neat, concentrated form as calculated with established life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, such as Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) methodology.
