S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y
“We have to be able
to demonstrate to our
fiercest critics that
we’re doing everything
possible to address
the issue of carbon
emissions in aviation”
Clive Jackson, Victor founder and CEO
strategy and regulatory affairs at
Gulfstream Aerospace.
“Structural optimization, system refinements, aerodynamic
improvements and engine technology advances all
contribute to environmental efficiency. Technology in the
flight deck is a major contributor,” says Etter. “Also, our
aircraft are designed and manufactured to have a very
long life, which reduces waste and minimizes the use of
resources used during an aircraft’s lifespan.”
Leading the way
Within business aviation, airports, FBOs and charter
operators are considering ways to become more
environmentally friendly, including managing energy
use better and reducing waste.
This September, TAG Farnborough was awarded
the Institute of Environmental Management and
Assessment’s (IEMA) inaugural Energy and
Carbon Transition Award for becoming the first
business aviation airport in the world to achieve
carbon-neutral status. This was achieved through
investing more than £1 million (US$1.3 million) into
energy efficiency projects. The airport has reduced
carbon emissions by 73% and offsets residual
emissions through certified carbon offsetting projects.
On-demand jet charter platform Victor has been vocal
about business aviation’s role in reducing carbon emissions.
This summer it launched an action plan to become Europe’s
most environmentally responsible private jet charter
company by reducing fuel burn and adopting sustainable
alternative fuels. It now offsets the carbon emissions of each
flight it runs by 200%. Over the next five years it expects this
measures to save almost 403,500 tonnes of CO2.
“We want to do more than just enough and inspire others
to follow suit,” says Victor’s founder and CEO Clive Jackson.
“It’s important for everyone to see those responsible for
emissions doing everything in their power to address it, and
our mission is to inspire with positive action.
“We’re also inviting our flyers to make a financial
contribution to cleaning up the footprint associated with their
flight. The funds raised go to UN-approved certified carbon
offset programs,” he adds.
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Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and
Reduction Scheme for International Aviation
(CORSIA) also has the aspirational aim of
making all growth in international air travel carbon
neutral after this year.
“Carbon offsetting is one of several tools that
can be used to reduce carbon emissions,” says Kurt
Edwards, director general of the International Business
Aviation Council (IBAC). “The industry is focused on a
four-pillar strategy to address its carbon emissions – more
efficient operations, new technologies, infrastructure
modernization and market-based measures, of which carbon
offsetting is one.
“CORSIA will be the single, global carbon-offsetting
measure to address international aviation’s carbon
emissions. Combined with the other approaches, it will be
an important tool in helping the global aviation industry meet
its goal of carbon-neutral growth from 2020.”
Technical innovation
Aircraft manufacturers have played an important role in
improving the sustainability of jets and turboprops through
design innovation. For example, many of Gulfstream’s
aircraft have been designed to decrease their environmental
impact through establishing a balance of noise, emissions
and fuel consumption, while maintaining the speed, range,
comfort and reliability required of business jets, says
Charles Etter, technical fellow and head of environmental
Top left: Kurt Edwards, director
general of the International
Business Aviation Council
Main: Gulfstream used
sustainable aviation fuel
in its flight testing and
demonstrations of its latest
jets, such as the G600
Above: Charles Etter,
technical fellow and head of
environmental strategy and
regulatory affairs at
Gulfstream Aerospace