#Sustainability20: JetZero’s Futuristic ‘Blended Wing Body’ Plane To Take Flight In 2030 & More
Weekly Roundup - 12/04/24
Each Friday, we publish a round-up of the 20 most important stories on sustainable aviation. You can see previous editions of #Sustainability20 here.
Industry Updates
Bombardier has released scientifically backed Environmental Policy Declarations (EPDs) for every jet in its portfolio, becoming the first business jet manufacturer to do so, a year ahead of its goal to publish EPDs for the full product line-up by 2050.
IATA released a report to assist airlines, regulators, and the airline supply chain in mitigating the environmental impacts of single-use plastic products (SUPPs) in the aviation sector.
The FAA has issued a notice of funding opportunity for nearly $270 million in discretionary grants, including provisions for sustainable aviation fuel growth and the reduction of lead emissions.
The European Commission has adopted legislation introducing requirements for piloted electric air taxis, establishing criteria for drone certification and maintenance, which will pave the way for the launch of Innovative Air Mobility services.
CLIMATE WATCH: ‘Simply mind-boggling’: world record temperature jump in Antarctic raises fears of catastrophe - The Guardian
Scientists recorded a 38.5°C temperature jump above the seasonal average in Antarctica, the largest ever measured on Earth, leaving polar researchers struggling to describe the unprecedented event.
Infrastructure and operational efficiencies
Toulon Hyères Airport achieved net zero emissions in its activity scope, becoming one of only 10 airports worldwide to obtain ACA level 5 recognition for its decarbonisation efforts.
Air New Zealand trialled the removal of single-use cups on six domestic flights to explore waste reduction in aviation, as part of its work towards a more circular economy.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has begun trialling self-driving airside buses as part of its search for more sustainable alternatives to conduct ground-based operations.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Wizz Air and Firefly plan to build a refinery in Essex to convert treated sewage into SAF, with Wizz ordering up to 525,000 tonnes over 15 years.
Emirates has commenced the activation of its fuel agreement with Neste at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, with over 2 million gallons of blended SAF to be supplied in 2024.
Johnson Matthey announced that DG Fuels' proposed $4bn plant, utilising FT CANS technology, would be the largest deployment to date, producing 600,000Mt of SAF annually when fully operational.
Bill Gates-backed startup Infinium aims to create low-carbon alternatives to aviation fuel, diesel, and Naptha, with its Corpus Christi plant generating fuel for customers like Amazon and American Airlines.
The Biden administration's preliminary climate model for its SAF subsidy program is expected to be more restrictive than anticipated by the corn-based ethanol industry, sources told Reuters.
Technip Energies and LanzaTech Global were selected by the US DOE to negotiate up to $200 million in funding for their SECURE project, developing sustainable ethylene from captured CO2.
Solarig has reached an agreement with SOMACYL to acquire land for its NUMANTIA SAF project in Spain, with an estimated investment of €780 million and a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes per year.
Chile aims to start producing SAF in a large plant by 2030 and use the fuel made from various waste sources for half of its aviation needs by 2050.
New technology: Electric and Hydrogen
JetZero's 1:8 scale "blended wing body" demonstrator plane, Pathfinder, has been granted an FAA Airworthiness certificate, paving the way for a new form of sustainable commercial aircraft by 2030.
EHang has been granted a "Production Certificate" in China for its pilotless passenger aircraft, indicating it has met the CAAC's airworthiness regulatory requirements for mass production.
Daher will begin the conceptual design phase of a hybrid-electric TBM model later this year, influenced by the TBM 940-based EcoPulse technology demonstrator developed with Safran and Airbus.
AutoFlight has delivered its first Prosperity eVTOL aircraft to a customer in Japan, marking the world's inaugural delivery of a civilian ton-class eVTOL, with plans for demonstration flights at the 2025 Osaka World Expo.
ZeroAvia has signed an MoU with FEAM Aero to explore MRO services for its hydrogen-electric powertrains and the possibility of building a green hydrogen production facility at a US site.