Cpt Didier Moraine, as BeCA-ECA’s Environment Expert highlighted the pilot position regarding sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) EU regional meeting. (See LinkedIn post of ECA)
Climate change is the biggest challenge of our times.
European pilots are committed to the goals of the European Green Deal and overall welcomed the ambitious ‘Fit for 55′ package, with several observations and suggested improvements. (See full position paper on ECA website)
It is ECA’s ambition to promote new operational practices and procedures bringing environmental gains.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are widely recognised as the most promising avenue to decarbonise aviation in the short to medium-term.
Unfortunately, the recent energy crisis in Europe risks undermining the current efforts to develop this expected European SAF industry. The investments that need to be made now to meet the ambitious targets of the blending mandate may be delayed or simply made outside Europe. It would be tragic to see the EU missing this unique opportunity to become a leader in technologies and in an industry that will pave the way for the future of aviation.
Aviation needs a revolution and all the improvements, small or bigger, will play their role, but whatever technological breakthroughs we make; whatever operational improvements we manage to implement with or without the help of digitalisation and artificial intelligence; whatever taxes are added on carbon emissions, the sustainable growth in aviation will depend first on our future ability to produce enough clean energy and to get access to it.