Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

Connecting aircraft data is perhaps the easiest and fastest of the paths to sustainability in the airline industry, Boeing Global Services and Raytheon Technologies&nbsp;subsidiary Collins Aerospace each said this week at the 2023 Paris Airshow. But a patchwork of national government regulations, pilot union rules, and passenger data privacy concerns stand&nbsp;in the way of its full potential for saving fuel, lowering emissions, and reducing costs.&nbsp;
While optimizing flight paths using data presents no such concerns, squeezing more efficiencies from monitoring how pilots fly the airplane could be fraught with red tape.&nbsp;For example,&nbsp;monitoring individual pilot habits regarding landing speed and brake pedal application could reduce brake wear. Extended brake life means longer intervals for brake disc changes, lowering maintenance costs and subsequently lowering CO2 emissions with a reduction in the need for replacement parts. But pilot unions will likely block the use of data in such a&nbsp;manner.
“Where we operate is kind of a complex environment of regulations and union rules and all that kind of thing,” said Boeing Global Services v-p of digital aviation solutions Brad Surak. “So some places they can do that sort of analysis, and some places they can’t.”
Using passenger data to boost efficiency, and thus sustainability, is another touchy area, noted Ed Dryden, president of Collins Aerospace’s interiors strategic business unit. “Airlines waste $2 billion in food each year,” he said. Beyond those costs, carrying the extra weight of food on board the aircraft along with on-ground food preparation and distribution&nbsp;generates more CO2 emissions.
While the issue could be mitigated by&nbsp;using passenger data such as food preferences, personal data privacy laws—and people’s reluctance to share such information—could hinder fixing it. “Where passenger data would be stored is also an issue,” Dryden said.
So, for now, flight route optimization represents the clearest path&nbsp;for using data to increase sustainability, the companies said. Collins Aerospace president Steve Timm estimates that optimized routes could lower fuel burn and aircraft emissions by 1 to 2 percent—not a huge leap,&nbsp;but at least a step in the right direction.
“Routes have traditionally been planned for a time perspective or a fuel efficiency perspective,” noted Boeing’s Surak. “But we have tools that the airlines are using to look at carbon emissions. Using data, we actually can guide selections of altitudes in flight to help reduce carbon emissions. And we’re bringing that into the planning process.
“So airlines can choose to optimize their route structure or their flight plans based on weather conditions that are conducive to lower carbon—they might fly a little lower. We’re seeing deployment of these tools today, and it’s not uncommon to see a 1 percent reduction in fuel costs and carbon emissions. And a lot of people are getting more than a 2 to 3 percent reduction. Every little bit helps.”

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

Barriers Could Prevent Connected Data from Reaching Full Sustainability Potential

Data is an easy way to boost airlines' sustainability efforts, but regulations and pilot unions could prevent this effort from reaching its full potential.

Barriers Snarl Connected Data's Full Sustainability Potential

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

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 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.

Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney are committed to new R&D efforts in the Netherlands

RTX Launches Sustainability Alliance With Dutch Aerospace Sector

Total funding for the third phase of work could top €950 million

EU's Clean Aviation Set to Invite Proposals for Decarbonization R&D Work

Curt Epstein

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

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

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.

Naples Aviation is the first of many to begin offering SAF in the coming months

Florida FBO Becomes First on East Coast To Offer SAF

The large-scale plant is expected to come online in 2026

Pakistan's First SAF Plant Gets Funding Boost

The multi-billion-dollar facility is expected to be running by 2029

New Major SAF Plant Planned for Texas

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.

The move could bolster the Kingdom's circular economy and sustainability

TotalEnergies, Aramco Sign SAF Development Agreement

Kerry Lynch

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Environmental regulatory schemes are growing exponentially worldwide

4Air Compliance Services Expand with 21 More Enviro Regs

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

Paris Air Show 2023

More In Environment