A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in 2007, Curt came to&nbsp;the publication&nbsp;from the broadcast industry where he was a national science and technology television reporter and producer. He writes on the FBO field, aviation finance, and sustainable aviation and occasionally contributes to&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;sister publication&nbsp;Business Jet Traveler. Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year award for Best Airshow Daily. That same year, he was a finalist for another AJOYA award. He earned an AJOYA for Best Business Aviation Submission in 2018 and was a finalist in that category in 2021. He received the National Air Transportation Association’s&nbsp; Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.
Before joining AIN, Curt worked with&nbsp;Consumer Reports’ television division, CRTV, and for several local television news staffs. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University in 1995. Curt lives in New York State with his wife and two young sons.

Senior Editor

Curt Epstein

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced this week that its <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2023-12-08/iata-identifies-measures-increase-saf-production">prediction</a> of a tripling of worldwide sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in 2024 is on track, but noted several policy measures that governments could take to accelerate SAF usage.&nbsp;This year, global production of unblended SAF is expected to reach nearly 400 million gallons, an amount that equates to just 0.5% of total jet fuel demand.
“SAF will provide about 65% of the mitigation needed for airlines to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” explained IATA director general Willie Walsh, adding he is encouraged about the expected tripling of SAF output from 2023. “We still have a long way to go, but the direction of exponential increases is starting to come into focus.”
The organization noted that more than 140 renewable fuel projects with the capacity to produce SAF are expected to be operational by 2030. If they reach their expected output rates, renewable fuel capacity could total nearly 13.5 billion gallons by that date, and possibly more, as demand will dictate the amount of investment in renewable fuel refineries and technology. With a three- to five-year time lag from planning and funding to operation of a new refinery, those expectations could skew upwards in that time horizon.
“The interest in SAF is growing and there is plenty of potential,” added Walsh, “but the concrete plans that we have seen so far are far from sufficient. Governments have to set clear expectations for aviation to achieve a 5% CO2 emissions reduction through SAF 2030 and to be net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.” To accomplish that they need to implement policies to ensure that SAF will be available in the necessary quantities, he said.
With 80 percent of all SAF produced over the next half-decade expected to come via the HEFA production pathway using feedstocks such as used cooking oil, animal fats, and greases, IATA notes that accelerating other pathways using feedstocks, such as agricultural and forestry residue, will expand the potential for SAF production.
Through co-processing, existing petroleum refineries can be used to co-process up to 5% of approved renewable feedstocks alongside the conventional crude oil content. The association believes this solution can be implemented quickly but would require policies to facilitate consistent life-cycle carbon reduction assessments.
Lastly, most existing renewable fuel facilities were developed for diesel production. And as road transport transitions to electrification, policies should be established to incentivize their shift to SAF production, as well as signal strong government support and increase industry investment.
According to a recent IATA survey, an overwhelming majority of air travelers agreed that governments should provide incentives for airlines to use SAF and that oil companies should prioritize its production.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

IATA: Industry on Track To Triple Sustainable Aviation Fuel Output in 2024

The global SAF Output in 2024 will equal less than one percent of jet fuel usage

The International Air Transport Association announced that its earlier prediction of a tripling of worldwide sustainable aviation fuel production in 2024 is on track.

IATA: Industry on Track To Triple SAF Output in 2024

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

The report sees the Midwest as a future hotbed of SAF production

Environmental Group Sees U.S. e-Fuel Potential

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

4,000 solar panels have been fitted on buildings across the London-area facility

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News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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