Business jet fractional ownership operator NetJets has put figures on its progress toward its stated objective of carbon-neutral operations. It reports a 6% reduction in unit flight emissions so far, with 62% of its emissions offset already and 100% to be offset by 2012.
Steven Tebbe, the company's environmental affairs vice-president, says that these are the first fruits of NetJets' commitment to an eco-programme finalised in October 2007, but that there is "a long way to go yet" to carbon neutrality.
NetJets points out that its carbon offset plan is different from the voluntary options advertised to date by some airlines. From 2012, says the company, carbon offsetting for all flights will be compulsory for all share owners.
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So far, says Tebbe, 69% of owners are signed up to the carbon offsetting programme, and this has led to 62% of emissions being offset already. The deal is that, as owners renew their five-year contracts, they are presented with a pricing system that includes the cost of carbon offsets as a non-negotiable component of the new agreement, and by 2012 that will include 100% of NetJets owners.
Meanwhile, the company says it has started a corporate programme to reduce the company's emissions, including the non-flying component, by 36% per employee, and expects to reach the 10% reduction by the end of this year.
Operationally, says Tebbe, NetJets has adopted a number of lean-fuel initiatives. These include operating all ferry flights at fuel-optimum speeds, making continuous descent approaches standard wherever possible and carrying out fuel "tankering" only when there is no alternative.
In addition, paper flight manuals, charts and flight information systems have been replaced by electronic ones, saving weight; ground power units are used wherever possible instead of the auxiliary power unit; NetJets' Dassault Falcon fleet has been fitted with winglets, and wherever this makes cost/benefit sense, says Tebbe, the policy will be extended to other types.
For the longer term, Tebbe says the company is investing in the next-generation jet fuel programme at Princeton University.
Source: Flight International
