The first day of the JetNet iQ Summit was punctuated by both cautious optimism for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) solutions and marked criticism of those in the political arena who have criticized the business aviation industry for its perceived role in climate change.
In a panel titled “Net Zero: Altitude, True Airspeed, Fuel Reserves, and Distance to Destination,” panelist Mahlet Garedew talked about her company’s efforts to turn CO2 into a usable fuel source. Garedew is the innovation program manager at Air Company.
“Our process is CO2 agnostic. You can get your CO2 from a power plant or you can get it from a biogenic source; you can get it from direct air capture,” she said. “That’s kind of our model, being able to deploy technology anywhere, even in New York City.”
In the following panel titled “Business Aviation and Climate Change: Today, Tomorrow”, Holger Krahmer—secretary-general of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA)—did not hold back in his criticism of the European Commission’s previous attitudes towards business aviation.
“The last European Commission was, in my point of view, with my 20 years experience of Brussels experience, the most business-unfriendly European Commission we ever had,” he said.