TagSustainable Aviation Fuels(82)

This July 2022 report from the Mission Possible Partnership outlines a global strategy for reducing aviation's greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, in line with the 1.5°C climate target. It identifies key milestones, technologies, and investments needed across the aviation value chain, including sustainable aviation fuels and new propulsion systems. The strategy is intended to guide airlines, policymakers, and financial institutions in taking coordinated action this decade.

This March 2022 FAA presentation to the REDAC Energy & Environment Subcommittee provides an overview of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), highlighting both opportunities—such as drop-in compatibility with existing aircraft and infrastructure, and the potential to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions—and challenges including high production costs, limited incentives, and blend limits capped at 50%. The FAA's SAF program focuses on three areas: testing and accelerating fuel development, analyzing environmental and economic sustainability, and coordinating with public-private partnerships and international bodies like ICAO. While primarily focused on aviation decarbonization broadly, the program's emissions-reduction goals have indirect relevance to noise and environmental policy discussions at major airports like Sea-Tac.

This document from 350 Seattle argues that alternative aviation fuels (AAFs), often marketed as 'sustainable aviation fuels' or SAFs, are largely a greenwashing tactic by the aviation industry and cannot meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially as flight volumes continue to grow. It highlights that planes burning AAFs still emit carbon just like conventional jet fuel, and that scaling up AAF production raises serious equity concerns, including health impacts on low-income communities and people of color living near Sea-Tac Airport and under flight paths. 350 Seattle instead calls for an emissions cap on aviation, a halt to airport expansion, and investment in true zero-emission solutions.

The Burien Airport Committee held a virtual meeting on June 15, 2021, to review draft lists of future agenda topics, upcoming airport-related meetings, and airport legislation and mitigation funding, including discussion of Sustainable Aviation Fuel and its potential to reduce particulate pollution. The committee also received an update on the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) activities and planned upcoming presentations on Burien's Draft Climate Action Plan and a session by the ASCENT aviation research lab from WSU. Public participation was conducted remotely via Zoom, email, or text due to pandemic restrictions on in-person meetings.

The Burien Airport Committee held a virtual meeting on May 18, 2021, to discuss issues related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including proposals to invite Port Commission President Fred Felleman to a future meeting and presentations on sustainable aviation fuel and aviation's climate impacts. The committee also reviewed updates on the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) and Burien's planned comments on the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). Draft minutes from the April 20, 2021 meeting, which featured guests from Public Health Seattle-King County and the Port of Seattle, were also submitted for approval.

A February 2021 presentation by Airlines for America outlines how COVID-19 devastated the airline industry, with worldwide passenger traffic dropping 66% and U.S. carrier revenues falling 61.5% year-over-year. Despite these financial losses, airlines remained committed to environmental progress, including accelerating the retirement of older, less fuel-efficient aircraft in favor of newer, cleaner models. The presentation also highlights the role of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and aviation's broader responsibility in achieving a sustainable future.