Pulling Together: Inside The United States Aviation Climate Action Plan

by Sumit Singh (Simple Flying) The US aviation scene is serious about sustainability. -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions industry-wide by 2050. With this in mind, the authority revealed its Aviation Climate Action Plan late last year. The group’s management this week spoke about how the strategy can help reach its ambitious goals.

The FAA highlights the importance of recognizing the most significant contributors to GHG emissions in the country. Notably, jet fuel combustion from both domestic and international activity represents over 97% of the country’s aviation industry’s CO2 emissions. The remaining share is taken up by airport services and piston engine-aircraft. Moreover, the carbon emissions domestic flights are approximately the same as international flights.

So, with it being clear that jet fuel is the providing the largest challenge, the FAA is focusing on measures in this field. Efficient engines and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will see revolutions by the time the next decade arrives.

Hydrogen is another field that is heavily being looked at, with the FAA mentioning this element as a possible solution for short-haul aviation in its Action Plan.

However, Boeing, the US’ leading commercial aircraft manufacturer, has been pragmatic when it comes to hydrogen, unlike Airbus, which is relying on the element to bring zero-emission flight by 2035. Yet, we are seeing CFM, behind the engines of much of Boeing’s most popular aircraft, committed to the hydrogen notion. So, we are set to see considerable shifts this decade. READ MORE