In the first summit on sustainable aviation fuels, business aviation leaders came away committed to fostering large-scale production and adoption of the same.
Part of a series of efforts by the business aviation industry to encourage production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the summit focused on encouraging federal and state policymakers to consider legislative incentives to foster SAF use; developing market-based programs, such as “book-and-claim,” which allows operators to purchase SAF even if it isn’t available at the airport they are flying from; and finding ways to expand infrastructure needed to meet SAE demand.
“I believe the summit clearly highlighted two key messages. First, after succeeding with all the foundational work on an SAF strategy, the entire civil aviation industry is clearly ready and willing to expand use of SAF, but it is in short supply, due to some fundamental challenges typical of any developing market,” CAAFI Executive Director Steve Csonka said. “Secondly, policymakers can assist by creating stable incentivizing policies, at both state and federal levels, or addressing policy bias, which currently impedes SAF expansion, and favors renewable diesel. We look forward to continued engagement on the topic.”
The Summit session featured perspectives from government leaders, such as Joel Szabat, Acting Undersecretary for Transportation Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation, and U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), chair of the House Subcommittee on Aviation. The summit also included several announcements from leading business aviation companies promoting SAF use.
The event was organized by the Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Fuel, which includes Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and National Business Aviation Association.