FAA Details Operator CORSIA Reporting

The FAA has developed a voluntary program for monitoring, reporting, and verifying (MRV) CO2 emissions under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Private, on-demand charter, fractional, and airline operators who fly internationally are invited to voluntarily develop an MRV for CO2 emissions.

According to the FAA, “The decision to participate is voluntary, but once an operator has volunteered, there are specific steps to follow.” However, the MRV program is independent of offsetting, and the data reported will be used for the calculation of CORSIA baselines. The offsetting of emissions under CORSIA, which might require rulemaking or other action, will be addressed at a future time.

With respect to the voluntary nature of the program, the FAA said the primary reason “is that there was not adequate time to undertake rulemaking to have a [regulatory] program in place for the 2019/2020 period.” Nevertheless, the agency said it anticipates a “high level of participation by U.S. aircraft operators based on public statements and information received to date.”

In addition, “The FAA will post a listing of participants on the program website, including the status of each participant’s submissions, which will provide transparency on the level of compliance by U.S. operators.”

Participation in the CORSIA MRV Program is intended for U.S. airplane operators that produce annual CO2 emissions greater than 10,000 metric tons. As previously reported, the vast majority of business aircraft will typically not reach this level, but operators can still elect to participate in the program to monitor their international emissions.