Avionics News February 2023 - 44

4AIR
Continued from page 42
frequently require business jet operators to report and address
their emissions with thresholds as low as 1,000 tons. At this
point, most participate voluntarily at the request of customers
or are private individuals who are aware of their environmental
impact and want to mitigate it.
" We see pressures coming from all sides of the industry,
from customers to governments, lenders, insurers, the
media and even employees, " Ricci said. " With increasing
ESG (environmental, social and governance) disclosure
requirements for public companies, many are making
sure their flight departments are included and prepared for
those requirements. As new environmental compliance
obligations emerge for international flying, more and more
operations need to make sure they are prepared for regulatory
requirements and align their voluntary programs with
changing best practices. "
4AIR is uniquely capable of assisting companies in the
industry, according to Ricci, because bringing in corporate
sustainability programs from outside aviation hasn't produced
meaningful results.
" We understand the complexities and nuances of the
industry; we came from business aviation and understood
that as a nuanced industry, we needed a nuanced approach to
sustainability, " said Ricci, who holds commercial pilot and
CFI certificates and an instrument rating.
" It's not just about carbon offsets but addressing all
emissions, reducing your footprint with SAF (sustainable
aviation fuel) and accelerating new technology. Our goal is
to build a comprehensive program that addresses each pillar
of sustainability in a way that is relevant to the individual
operator, aligns their voluntary and regulatory needs, and
supports the future of aviation. "
Programs for both operators, facilities
4AIR offers four rating levels for aircraft operators
- bronze (carbon-neutral), silver (emissions-neutral),
gold (reducing emissions by at least 5%) and platinum
(participants who also contribute to the Aviation Climate
Fund). In addition, the company offers a rating program
designed for aviation-related ground facilities.
Receiving a facilities neutral rating from 4AIR requires
100% offsetting all direct emissions. If an organization
doesn't already have a program in place, 4AIR can assist with
compiling footprint data and acquiring the carbon offsets.
Clay Lacy Aviation recently received a 4AIR carbonneutral
rating at its FBO and MRO facilities in Oxford,
Connecticut; Seattle, Washington; and Van Nuys, San
44 avionics news * february 2023
Diego and Orange County, California, and sustainability
ratings for its managed aircraft. In 2020, Clay Lacy
Aviation developed a comprehensive sustainability
program to reduce its carbon footprint, including adopting
solar energy, using biodiesel in ground service equipment
and working toward providing sustainable aviation fuels.
As the organization that incubated 4AIR's mission,
most of Directional Aviation's companies participate in a
sustainability program, according to Ricci.
" Sentient, FXAIR, Halo and AAG each have their own
program as does Flexjet, " Ricci said. " Flexjet's G650 program
in Europe actually commits to the 4AIR Level 4 rating,
supporting new sustainability technology, reducing all flights'
footprint by 5% automatically, and offsetting the rest by 300%
to compensate for both CO2
and non-CO2
impacts. "
4AIR's leadership continues to look for additional
ways to bring carbon offset programs to other aviation
entities. In August 2022, the company began offering a
general aviation sustainability program that helps private
pilots offset the impact of their own flying. Designed as a
monthly subscription, the program is customized for the
type of aircraft and the pilot's typical annual hours and
preferred commitment level.
In December 2022, 4AIR announced its newest
sustainability program, which focuses on regulatory
monitoring and compliance. It monitors an operator's
flying activity and alerts them to any potential compliance
obligations. Should operations occur in a country or region
where emissions reporting is required, 4AIR provides a
full-service compliance package automatically.
For long-term sustainability, start small
For organizations interested in operating more
sustainably, Ricci suggested starting small.
" Identify where your emissions come from, " Ricci
said. " Look at what projects you can implement and
what has the most cost-effective impact per ton of CO2
reduced. There are simple projects that can be done
immediately like replacing single-use plastic bottles,
changing light bulbs and procuring renewable energy.
" Of course, 4AIR is always here to help educate
and show you how to take some easy first steps into
sustainability. Aviation sustainability is a long-term
journey, and there is quite a bit of misunderstanding and
confusion about getting involved in an impactful way.
We're happy to talk to anyone right from the beginning.
Our goal is to be a resource to help you understand
where you can make an impact and navigate this
challenging new space, regardless of whether you're a
customer. " q
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