On May 20, 2019, business aviation leaders celebrated the record number of airplanes arriving at the industry’s largest European industry event fueled by sustainable alternative jet fuels (SAJF). In all, 23 aircraft arrived at Geneva Airport (GVA) in Switzerland for the annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) using alternative fuels.
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Aircraft that participated in this first-ever EBACE SAJF Fly-In are showcased at the event’s static display. The significance of the fly-in was recognized by EBACE organizers, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA).
This week’s record-setting EBACE SAJF Fly-In is a milestone in business aviation’s commitment to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. We are proud that Europe’s leading business aviation event, which has always showcased innovation, is proving the viability and value of alternative fuels said,Juergen Wiese. Chairman of the Board of Governors, European Business Aviation Association (EBAA).
Production and use of the alternative fuels are key to the industry’s Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change, which, among other aims, seeks to achieve carbon-neutral growth from 2020 forward. Last year at EBACE, industry leaders reaffirmed that commitment by releasing a guide to using SAJF.
Official EU Sustainable Energy Week event
Many of the airplanes that flew to EBACE using SAJF arrived from London’s TAG Farnborough Airport, in the UK where industry leaders hosted a demonstration day, entitled “Fuelling the Future”, on May 18, 2019. The Farnborough day, which was officially designated as part of the EU Sustainable Energy Week (SEW), followed a similar SAJF demonstration day at Van Nuys Airport in California, in January 2019.
Today, it is more evident than ever how unified our industry is in working toward the goal of continually reducing emissions through innovation. Business aviation has always led the way in promoting technologies that advance the sustainability of flight, and it is appropriate that we highlight our focus in this area through this record-setting fly-in, said Ed Bolen, President and CEO, National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
Generate sector interest
At the Farnborough Demonstration Day and again today at EBACE, industry leaders underscored that SAJF is safe and do not impact aircraft performance. The fuels also benefit airport communities, reducing particulate matter (PM). In addition to EBAA and NBAA, the development of SAJF has been promoted by a coalition of industry organizations, including the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA).
These flights are intended to demonstrate to everyone in our industry that SAJF is, quite simply, Jet-A in every way: a drop-in fuel that has undergone exhaustive testing and meets all specifications and requirements. As an industry, we are extremely proud to have delivered a 40 percent fuel efficiency improvement over the last 40 years through improved aircraft and component designed materials and manufacturing processes. We look forward to building upon these efficiency gains, which directly translate to our industry’s environmental sustainability goals through the growing availability and use of SAJF, said Pete Bunce, President, and CEO, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
Leaders from that coalition thanked all the fuel providers, aircraft manufacturers, service providers, airport authorities and others who supported this week’s EBACE SAJF Fly-In, including: Air BP, Avfuel, Aviator, Bombardier, Cirrus Aircraft, Daher, Dassault Aviation, Diamond Aircraft, Embraer, Gulfstream, JSSI, Neste, Textron Aviation, VistaJet and World Fuel Services.
This fleet of 23 aircraft flying into Geneva for EBACE on sustainable aviation fuel represents the global commitment by business aviation to mitigate its carbon emissions and contribute to the goal of carbon-neutral growth from 2020. The fly-in also demonstrates the viability of these drop-in fuels, and provides further proof to the industry that we can fly with SAJF now, said Kurt Edwards, Director General, International Business Aviation Council (IBAC).
In addition to Farnborough, flights arrived in Geneva from several airports in Europe and North America, where alternative fuels were available for business aircraft. These include Caen Carpiquet Airport (CFR) in France, Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) in Sweden and Republic Airport in the United States (US).
Each milestone of the SAJF initiative represents progress in education and awareness and exemplifies the dedication and commitment of our industry and coalition members. NATA thanks each one of the participants of the Farnborough and EBACE events for their support and engagement – without them, none of this would be possible, stated Gary Dempsey, President, National Air Transportation Association (NATA).
