Sept. 6, 2019
When Bloomberg recently published an opinion column examining the industry’s carbon footprint in the wake of Prince Harry’s use of a general aviation aircraft, it neglected to report on business aviation’s strong commitment to sustainability. “Your piece omitted that fact that the use of these airplanes is, and will remain, a tiny and ever-lessening portion of emissions,” NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen wrote in a letter to the editor. “That hasn’t happened by coincidence: business aviation leaders are working with governments worldwide toward the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels. These environmentally friendly alternative fuels – developed through a long-standing, voluntary industry investment – are ready for use, in Europe and elsewhere.”
Read Bolen’s full letter in response to the article:
Dear Editor,
Your recent opinion article (Prince Harry’s Shaming Is Bad News for Private Jets, Aug. 23) included not a single source to detail the long-standing, often visionary work in environmental sustainability and stewardship from an industry called “business aviation,” which involves the use of mostly small airplanes to meet aviation-transportation needs for companies of all sizes, everywhere.
First, and perhaps most importantly, your piece omitted that fact that the use of these airplanes is, and will remain, a tiny and ever-lessening portion of emissions. That hasn’t happened by coincidence: business aviation leaders are working with governments worldwide toward the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels. These environmentally friendly alternative fuels – developed through a long-standing, voluntary industry investment – are ready for use, in Europe and elsewhere.
Equally important, the work on alt-fuels builds upon the pioneering efforts that have already reduced the carbon footprint for business aviation over four decades. Those include more efficient wing design; quieter, cleaner engines; and global-positioning systems that have continually reduced emissions.
Our work is hardly done: we are now exploring technologies that depart entirely from traditional fuels, to apply electric and other means of power-sourcing to aviation travel. The viability of this has already been demonstrated – it’s simply a matter of time, and continued industry focus, before the carbon imprint from business aviation –already less than from a host of other sources – is demonstrably less than today. It’s unfortunate your readers were led to believe otherwise.
Best,
Ed Bolen
President and CEO
National Business Aviation Association
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.