The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has challenged a report for selectively using data, making statements based on faulty analysis and ignoring facts to produce a one-sided set of conclusions about sustainability and business aviation \u2013 an industry that is on pace to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a letter submitted to news outlets that have covered the report, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said the study, published Nov. 7 in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, relies \u201con a cherry-picked data set, flawed analysis and omission of key facts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifically, the report focuses only on aircraft hours flown during a selective window, largely focused on the global COVID moment. \u201cThat moment included an uptick in business aviation activity, as the airlines dramatically reduced or halted flights, making business aviation the best \u2013 and often, the only \u2013 option for essential travel,\u201d Bolen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPredictably, the report\u2019s narrow look at flight activity misses the fact that in the years following the pandemic, business aviation activity has largely returned to pre-pandemic norms,\u201d Bolen added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report also makes an oversimplified assumption that flights taken in the summer are inherently for non-business reasons, ignoring the fact that business aviation is often necessary for critical, face-to-face meetings with clients or customers, regardless of the season or flight destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bolen said the report also omits crucial facts about the sector\u2019s progress on carbon reduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe business aviation sector has slashed emissions by 40% in just four decades, with breakthroughs including lightweight composites, winglets, satellite-based avionics and a host of other carbon-cutting technologies,\u201d Bolen noted. \u201cLooking to the future, our mission to achieve net zero is focused on innovation, including through investment in sustainable aviation fuel \u2013 which can cut lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 80% \u2013 and development of highly efficient aircraft, engines, and new, electric, hybrid and even hydrogen-powered propulsion systems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Equally important, while business aviation continues to make strides in reducing emissions and advancing sustainability, the report overlooks several independent studies that highlight business aviation\u2019s essential role in the world\u2019s economic and transportation systems. The sector is a major employer and economic generator, connects communities with little or no airline service, helps companies be more efficient, productive and successful, and supports humanitarian missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow is it possible that a purportedly rigorous study would fail to disclose so much important information about business aviation\u2019s societal benefits, including its record on emissions reduction and its leadership on a commitment to a net-zero future?\u201d Bolen asked. \u201cPerhaps its authors were working from a preordained conclusion. If so, we would encourage an analysis that considers all relevant data about a world-leading industry\u2019s pursuit of sustainability, on the ground and in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read the Communications Earth & the Environment report<\/a>, and NBAA\u2019s full response: Fact Check: Study Ignores Business Aviation\u2019s Real-World Sustainability Record.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has challenged a report for selectively using data, making statements based on faulty analysis and ignoring facts to produce a one-sided set of conclusions about sustainability and business aviation \u2013 an industry that is on pace to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In a letter submitted to news […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30183"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30183\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30184,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30183\/revisions\/30184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}