Business aviation is an essential American industry – not only for the companies that utilize its safety, security and efficiency to compete in the global marketplace, but also for communities that rely upon business aviation as an indispensable lifeline to connect them to the world.
The vast majority of companies that rely on business aviation are small and medium-size companies, many of which are located in towns far from America’s major metropolitan business centers. These enterprises depend upon business aircraft, operating from community airports, to remain connected and competitive.
At the same time, business aviation also describes an industry that serves as vital lifeline to people in hard-to-reach communities across the nation and throughout the world by providing critical lift.
Schools, universities, postal services, homeland security, law enforcement and military operations, firefighting teams and other government and private-sector service providers also utilize our industry to reach areas where commercial airlines don’t fly.
Business aviation also supports emergency medical transport and humanitarian missions in times of need. It regularly provides life-saving services to people in hard-to-reach communities around the globe. This includes air ambulance services, flying medical patients in need of immediate, emergency care at local hospitals and the transport of others to specialized facilities across the country.
Lastly, but no less important, our industry contributes significantly to economic development and job creation. General aviation, which includes business aviation, supports 1.2 million American jobs and $246 billion in economic output across our country.
Here’s another fact about business aviation that may not be well known – business aviation is a sector that is focused on aviation sustainability, with a longstanding, unified goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Despite these contributions, business aviation frequently comes under attack – from activists, government and the general public – as a wasteful luxury, reserved only for a privileged elite. Sadly, these unfounded claims show no sign of waning anytime soon.
CLIMBING. FAST. Toward Net Zero
As the organization representing 11,000 companies of all sizes using business aviation, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) last year joined with 10 other industry groups to launch CLIMBING. FAST., an advocacy initiative to showcase not only our sustainability innovations to policymakers and opinion leaders, but also make them aware of business aviation’s many societal benefits.
One of the most impactful actions toward our net zero goal is the increasing development and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF. Business aviation has truly been at the forefront of pushing for greater production, availability and use of SAF, which can offer as much as an 80 percent reduction to lifecycle carbon emissions over traditional jet fuel.
The use of SAF offers other benefits, as well. In June, a collaborative in-flight study conducted by Airbus, Rolls-Royce, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and fuel provider Neste found that using 100% sustainable aviation fuel reduced soot particles and formation of contrail ice crystals compared to using conventional jet fuel.
In addition to using SAF, our industry is also implementing new technologies such as hydrogen, hybrid-electric and full-electric propulsion. Business aviation continues to lead in the development of advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles that stand to revolutionize urban and regional transportation, with zero-carbon emissions.
At the same time, we are adopting more efficient operations and infrastructure. This includes continued progress on more efficient air-traffic management, along with measures including streamlined flight planning, single-engine taxiing and others. We have also adopted market-based measures such as carbon offsets and emissions trading, which can yield significant near-term carbon emissions reductions.
Our industry has also implemented measures to demonstrate and validate these efforts. In 2022, NBAA launched a Sustainable Flight Department Accreditation Program, providing an industry standard for validating leadership in sustainable flight operations. To date, the program has recognized 44 accreditations to 25 businesses, with an identified net reduction of 125,266 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
And we’re only just beginning. Despite being one of the toughest industries to decarbonize, business aviation is doing its part to help foster a better and cleaner planet. CLIMBING. FAST. highlights these societal benefits to inform discussions about business aviation’s purpose, its importance and its environment focus.
Showcasing Industry’s Exciting, Sustainable Future
These messages are further showcased at industry-leading regional and international events. In May, NBAA joined with the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) to again host the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland.
EBACE2024 spotlighted some of the world’s most cutting-edge and efficient aircraft, including pistons, turboprops, intercontinental jets and business helicopters. AAM also featured prominently at EBACE, including an AAM vehicle on the show’s aircraft display for the first time, and an indoor lineup with game-changing electric, hybrid and hydrogen aircraft.
Business aviation’s global mission to reach net zero by 2050 was underscored with EBAA joining the CLIMBING. FAST. advocacy initiative, marking a first-of-its-kind trans-Atlantic partnership that will champion the industry’s leadership with policymakers.
These messages will also be at the forefront as the world of business aviation comes together from Oct. 22-24 in Las Vegas, NV to see the latest aircraft, review innovations for the flight deck, and hear from aviation and business leaders about the future of the industry at the 2024 edition of NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE).
As the most influential business aviation trade show in the world, NBAA-BACE will host industry leaders from across the globe at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) to examine the latest products and services and discuss the latest issues affecting our industry. Hundreds of exhibitors will be on hand, showcasing their products and services to this diverse international audience.
NBAA-BACE will also feature a comprehensive lineup of fixed-wing business aircraft, of all types and for all missions, on display at nearby Henderson Executive Airport (HND).
Of course, NBAA-BACE will also host sessions on these and other topics of interest to business aviation operations across the globe, with sustainability front-and-center throughout the Business Aviation Sustainability Summit. Safety will also be a top focus area during NBAA-BACE, including the Single-Pilot Safety Standdown and the National Safety Forum.
The 2024 edition of NBAA-BACE will serve as a powerful showcase of all that makes business aviation essential, safe and sustainable, ensuring that companies and communities of all sizes continue to realize the industry’s many benefits.
We have a great, powerful and exciting story to share. Expansion Solutions readers are invited to experience it for themselves this October at NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas.
Bio: An FAA-certificated sport pilot, Rob has been actively involved in the aviation community for more than 15 years. He has authored thousands of news releases and feature items for numerous aviation businesses and industry advocacy groups catering to business aviation professionals.
Since 2005, Rob has reported on a variety of events and topics of critical importance to the aviation industry, including four years as Managing Editor for an online aviation news service focusing on general aviation, commercial airlines, business aviation and aerospace. He’s covered a broad variety of breaking news affecting the aviation community, and reported on-site from industry trade events including HELI-EXPO, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual convention and EAA AirVenture/Oshkosh; international events such as the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE); and has spoken with leading executives, CEOs, regulatory officials and other notable figures within the aviation community.
Rob’s work has been published by Aviation International News, Flying magazine, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Helicopter Association International (HAI) as well as several other companies within the global business aviation community.
