NBAA-BACE: Sustainability Vanguard Issues CLIMBING. FAST. Call to Action

Oct. 24, 2024

On the first anniversary of the CLIMBING. FAST. campaign to advance business aviation’s commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, top sustainability leaders shared their thoughts on next steps during a panel discussion at the 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas.

As part of its strategy to reach net zero, CLIMBING. FAST. has been promoting the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.

“Overall, last year, about 107 billion gallons of Jet A were combusted in the world and last year in the United States, as an example, we consumed about 55 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel. So, there’s a long way to go to make this meaningful,” said Scott Lewis, president of World Energy Supply Zero.

First unveiled at NBAA-BACE in 2023, CLIMBING. FAST. is a multi-media advocacy initiative aimed at educating policymakers and opinion leaders about business aviation’s sustainability goals. The campaign also touts the industry’s role in creating jobs, connecting communities and providing humanitarian disaster relief.

Moderated by Julie Boatman of JulietBravoFox Media, the panel talked about advances in zero emissions technology and the business case for embracing sustainability.

“We’re trying to be a voice for the industry,” said panelist Scott Cutshall, president, real estate and sustainability at Clay Lacy. “And while all of these organizations have taken wonderful steps forward, I think we all agree there’s much more that needs to be done. We’re just getting started.”

Call to Action

CLIMBING. FAST. continues to expand globally, with the European Business Aviation Association joining last May and the Canadian Business Aviation Association announcing its partnership at this year’s NBAA-BACE.

“What you’ve seen through CLIMBING. FAST. is a call to action for everyone to participate – whether it be our next generation going to Capitol Hill and advocating, or whether it’s industry taking proactive steps,” Cutshall said. “By doing that, our industry is taking control of our own future. We’re not waiting to be told what to do through unnecessary regulation. We’re not waiting to be told what to do through taxation.”

Bombardier’s EcoJet

Canada’s Bombardier, in addition to making business jets, has been making sustainability investments in multiple ways, including installing solar energy panels, embracing smarter recycling practices and using SAF.

The OEM is developing a small-scale airplane designed to learn more about low-emissions flight. Panelist Eve Laurier, vice president, communications marketing and public affairs at Bombardier, said the company took the initiative to launch the project on its own in 2009.

“We didn’t go looking for grants 15 years ago – we just started doing it,” said Laurier. “And now that people around the world are talking about the EcoJet, we’ve got politicians and associations calling us to say, ‘This is unbelievable. How can we help?’”

‘Ready to Do Our Part’

Panelist and former acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen is currently chief regulatory officer at Archer Aviation, which is developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that produces zero carbon emissions.

“Our goal there is fairly simple,” Nolen said. “Let’s bring something that’s new and novel, that won’t harm the planet, that is environmentally friendly and fully sustainable. That’s who we are at Archer, and we certainly are prepared and ready to do our part.”