As posted on AINonline | October 2018

The buzz around sustainable alternative jet fuel has grown to an all-time high in 2018, having picked up momentum this spring following the release of May 2018’s Business Aviation Guide: To the Use of Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel (SAJF). Since then, excitement has sustained as business aviation operators patiently await the products’ availability in the market. While some of its commercial aviation counterparts begin inaugural flights utilizing SAJF, bizav operators continue to wait. Nevertheless, Avfuel’s experts in alternative fuels confirm that progress is being made on this front, and that sustainable alternative fuels should remain a priority and focus for suppliers and operators alike.

Though aviation—and business aviation in particular—is one of the last modes of transportation to adopt environmentally-friendly fuel sources, it’s not from a lack of effort. Rather, it’s quite the opposite. Aircraft, more than any other type of machinery, require heightened safety considerations. And now that a safe, viable sustainable jet fuel product has been developed, the challenge is in the supply and logistics. But—as the old adage goes—all good things are worth the wait. And this sustainable alternative jet fuel product is no exception to the rule.

Here’s why sustainable alternative jet fuel is beneficial, why it’s not yet available in the business aviation community, what Avfuel is doing to make it available, and what flight departments can do to support the effort as a key component to bringing the product to market.