august2021 - 14

INDUSTRY EXPERT
COLUMN
their hangars, but these systems are mandated
by state and local fire officials as a
condition of occupancy/construction as set
forth in National Fire Protection Association
409 standard. Because there is no
satisfactory drop-in replacement agent,
and the use is not regulated by the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA), the federal
government currently has no ability
to preempt their installation. However, a
few states have banned the use of PFAS.
In the current situation, modifications to
foam fire suppression code are needed to
accommodate today's modern aircraft fleet
and hangar design standards.
Providing Tax Credits and
Lease Incentives for Solar
Farms on Undeveloped
Airport Land and Rooftops
The FAA's Voluntary Airport Low Emissions
program, which provides air quality
credits for future airport development, has
been undersubscribed despite improvements
in the 2018 reauthorization. Eligibilities
should be reexamined that could
leverage public-private partnerships or
unique partnerships with businesses
located at airports to transition to renewable
and solar energy.
A $2/gallon
blender's
tax credit for
sustainable
aviation fuels
would provide
parity with
biodiesel
for SAF,
eliminating the
competition
for production
and supply
between the
two.
Developing Stationary
Energy Storage Systems
Electricity generation from renewable
energy sources is rapidly growing. To integrate
their variable nature, energy storage
systems are growing on a parallel basis.
This market is broken into two branches
called front-of-meter (FTM) and behindthe-meter
(BTM). The FTM sector, which
Modifications to foam fire suppression code are needed to
accommodate today's modern aircraft fleet and hangar design standards.
is related to the operation of the electricity
infrastructure, employs batteries to maintain
a continuous flow of electricity to
consumers. The BTM sector, which is the
customer side of the market, involves the
use of batteries by consumers to decrease
electricity costs. This market is in its early
stages, and the future adoption of green
policies is expected to drive the adoption
of renewable energies in both segments.
Airports face the challenge of keeping
infrastructure requirements in pace with
electric aircraft designs.
Notably,
last January,
the National
Academy of Sciences (NAS) released a
report exploring Options for Reducing
Lead Emissions from Piston-Engine Aircraft.
Acknowledging that small gasoline-powered
aircraft are the single largest emitter
of lead in the United States, the study
acknowledges the complexity of eliminating
emissions in the general aviation
sector and recommends a multi-pronged
approach. Strategies range from changing
operations and practices at airports to
developing future lead-free fuels and propulsion
systems. Providing incentives to
suppliers could propel their use of suitable
replacements, including engine technologies
utilizing alternative fuels.
Overall, the NAS concludes that significantly
reducing lead emissions from
gasoline-powered aircraft will require the
leadership of the FAA and other government
agencies, as well as the nation's pilots,
airport managers, aviation fuel and service
suppliers, and aircraft manufacturers.
The same conclusion can be drawn in
regard to the advancement of the general
aviation industry's long-held goal to
expand access to aviation, while embracing
technological advancements and sound
policies that promote a cleaner future. The
integrity of the national airspace system
depends on this evolution.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Curt Castagna, president and CEO of Aeroplex/Aerolease Group, is a member of the
Los Angeles County Airport Commission, president of the Van Nuys and Long Beach
Airport Associations, and board chair of the National Air Transportation Association.
A certified private and instrument-rated pilot, he has instructed courses in aviation
administration at Cal State Los Angeles for over two decades.
14 GROUND SUPPORT WORLDWIDE AUGUST 2021
august2021

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