The Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on Wednesday released an updated version of its guide to the use of SAF. The new version, titled Fueling the Future, details the advances in the industry since its original publication in 2018. The coalition, which includes NBAA, EBAA, GAMA, IBAC, and NATA, also announced that it has welcomed a new member, the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), which contributed to the new guide.
With more people aware of SAF, the new edition of the guide is aimed more towards proliferation and adoption of the renewable fuel rather than simply education. It serves as a resource detailing the development of SAF, its growing acceptance, and the anticipated expansion of supply from a business aviation perspective. As a proven drop-in replacement for conventional jet-A, SAF blends in a component derived from bio-based or other renewable feedstock sources, which on a gallon-per-gallon basis typically reduce net lifecycle CO2 emissions by more than 50 percent over conventional fuel. Anticipated advances could bring that reduction to 100 percent or more, making use of the fuels carbon-negative.
“The largest single potential reduction in aviation’s GHG emissions—and the key to reaching our goals—will come about through the broad adoption of sustainable aviation fuel in place of the current conventional jet fuel,” the guide stated. According to industry reports, worldwide SAF production will increase significantly over the next half-decade.
“This new edition of the guide reinforces our global commitment to sustainable aviation fuels, and provides a fresh resource to further educate the business aviation industry of this drop-in alternative jet fuel,” said IBAC director general Kurt Edwards. “SAF represents a critical measure to help the global industry meet its long term goal to address climate change by halving carbon emissions by 2050, relative to 2005 levels.”