April 17, 2019
NBAA joined with six other aviation associations this month in encouraging congressional leaders to support extension of the biodiesel tax incentive that also promotes increased production of sustainable alternative jet fuel (SAJF).
“The U.S. aviation industry is committed to continuing to improve on our strong fuel efficiency record and to further enhancing our nation’s energy security through various means including the deployment of SAJF,” reads the letter. “But the biodiesel tax incentive remains critical to our efforts.” The letter was sent to Senate Finance Committee Chair Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), as well as House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means Chair Rep. Richard Neal (D-1-MA) and Ranking Member Rep. Kevin Brady (R-8-TX).
Developed from a range of sources, SAJF is one of the most promising technologies for reducing carbon emissions in today’s business aircraft fleet. SAJF is a completely drop-in replacement for conventional jet fuel when blended with petroleum-based Jet-A at allowable levels yet burns cleaner and with reduced CO2 emissions.
Increasing SAJF use and availability is a priority throughout the aviation industry. Last year, a coalition of international business aviation organizations, including NBAA, released the Business Aviation Guide to the Use of Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuels outlining the pathway towards the adoption and use of SAJF. That was followed by the first-ever widescale public demonstration of the fuel’s viability and safety at California’s Van Nuys Airport (VNY) on Jan. 17.
A similar demonstration will take place May 18 at Tag Farnborough London Airport, ahead of the annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2019) in Geneva, Switzerland, and both venues will host a variety of sessions detailing SAJF use and availability. Additional SAJF events are planned later this year, including demonstrations held in conjunction with NBAA’s annual Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) taking place Oct. 22-24 in Las Vegas, NV.
While industry awareness of SAJF’s benefits has increased, supporters note widespread adoption of the fuel remains hindered by a lack of production capacity.
“An extension of this credit will provide the industry with the stability necessary to continue investing in technology that will generate economic and environmental benefits with globally significant impacts,” the letter states. “While we have made significant progress, we must scale up supply and enhance cost-competitiveness to get the nascent SAJF industry over the cusp.”
Other signatories to the letter were Airlines for America, the Airline Pilots Association, the Cargo Airline Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the National Air Transportation Association and the Regional Airline Association.
Read the letter to Senate Finance Committee leaders. (PDF)
Read the letter to House Ways and Means Committee leaders. (PDF)
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.