Category: Sustainability

It is no secret that air travel emits greenhouse gasses. According to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), air travel produces about 3% of carbon dioxide emissions on a global scale. 

The aviation industry emits carbon dioxide into the air and water vapor, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, soot, and even contrails (the white streak that follows an aircraft). Noise pollution is also a problem. 

Since giving up flying isn’t an option, those in the industry are left to find ways to make a difference. Many major commercial airlines and private carriers are taking steps to increase sustainability and become more carbon-neutral. Some have even taken to reducing the use of single-use plastic, minimizing the amount of luggage onboard, etc. While it is much more complicated than most people realize, it can be done. 

Sun Air Jets proves it is possible as they have taken steps to ensure sustainable flying practices, both now and in the future. Here’s what they have been up to. 

Choosing Sustainable Aviation Fuel

One of the main reasons that air travel affects the environment is the use of jet fuel. It produces a high level of carbon dioxide, and because it spends a lot of time in the atmosphere, it can become even more potent as a greenhouse gas.

Thankfully, the use of alternative fuels has provided air travel with decreased risk to the environment. These fuels are becoming more and more accessible, using organic and renewable materials rather than made from petroleum. However, many airlines hesitate to switch because it often comes with a higher price point. 

Sun Air Jets is different. They offer sustainable aviation fuel. This makes it very convenient to make a difference in the environment. And it has allowed them to cut carbon emissions by up to 23%. Sustainable aviation fuel can be used on most jet aircraft. 

Sun Air Jets and their clients benefit from the ethical choice to reduce their carbon footprint and use sustainable jet fuel. Everyone wins. 

Investing in Carbon Offsetting

Carbon offsetting companies are popping up all over to help reduce carbon emissions. Not sure how it works? It’s easy. 

As the term suggests, those engaging in practices they know are unhealthy for the environment can invest in carbon offsets to offset the damage. For instance, eco-conscious travelers who find themselves flying to their destination can do so comfortably when they invest in carbon offsets because they will know that the damage they may cause with their choice of air travel will be counteracted with an act such as planting trees, adding to wind farms, or investing in other renewable energy sources. 

More and more companies in the world of aviation are investing in carbon offsetting to make a positive change within the environment. And Sun Air Jets has joined them as part of their sustainability pledge. 

Sun Air Jets has partnered with 4AIR, a carbon-offsetting company that funds projects to produce renewable energy and offset greenhouse gases worldwide, such as wind power and landfill gas capture. 

Sun Air Jets’ money in carbon offsetting helps balance the damage produced by charter flights. It is one more way they are proving themselves to be a leader in private aviation and sustainable flying. 

Choosing the Shortest Flight Times

You want to arrive at your destination as quickly as possible, and your flight crew also wants to get you there as efficiently as possible. But did you know that shaving off just a few minutes from a flight can save 100 kg or more carbon dioxide per flight?

Finding the shortest route to a destination and following the flight pattern is the best way to use fuel wisely with the environment in mind. As the aviation industry grows and evolves, new technology will emerge, giving flight crews an even easier way of finding the best route with the least fuel burned. 

A Reduction of Noise Pollution

While it may not have the same impact on our climate as air pollution, noise pollution is still a very invasive issue caused by air travel. Those in aviation try to make strides in harmony with the environment and their neighbors. 

Sun Air Jets has committed to the Quieter Nights Program. This keeps everything copacetic at all times. It is no wonder why they continue to prove themselves as leaders in private aviation. 

Sustainable Flying Practices

Many in the aviation industry worldwide, commercial and private, have committed to making changes that will positively impact the environment. Over the last couple of years, the world committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by the year 2050. The idea behind this is that it will reduce global warming significantly and the severity of the damage already caused – and that will be caused should we continue on the same path we are on today. 

As tourism and trade continue to push air travel and drive the development of the global economy, action needs to be taken now rather than later. And that’s why Sun Air Jets has taken a stand to do its part in offsetting its emissions and offering sustainable aviation fuel to make sustainable flying possible. 

We have one world to explore. The better we care for it, the longer it will care for us. Diving head first into sustainability efforts and offering sustainable aviation fuel, efficient flight routes, carbon offsetting, and even noise reduction, Sun Air Jets are making a difference and setting the example for other private jet companies. And by choosing them as your preferred private jet charter company, you are participating in this positive change.  

There are many times in life when you get a do-over. Maybe a loved one gave you a second chance. Perhaps you had an extra slice of bread to replace the one you burnt in the toaster at breakfast this morning. Your college professor may let you retake the test. This do-over is extremely important for rethinking our carbon offset approach.

For the aviation industry, the do-over comes with the opportunity to make things right with the environment. For years, air travel has caused quite a negative stir, with environmentalists and others looking out for the planet. We take what engineers of yesteryear created, and we make it better. Today, we are wiser about the harm our industry can cause the environment. So, we look for ways to find greener, more sustainable practices. Sun Air Jets has been implementing carbon offset initiatives so that they do their part to leave the world better than it was. 

Dangers of Jet Fuel

To get from point A to point B, jets need to fuel up. And that means burning fossil fuels. What’s more, emissions from the aviation industry had an environmental impact due to the release of greenhouse gasses. 

Every time an airplane burns jet fuel, it releases CO2 emissions. In addition to the CO2 emissions, which are harmful in their own right, let’s not forget that fuel spills also have the potential to contaminate soil and groundwater for years to come.

Because the damage caused by these fuels is so great, many are working hard to find more sustainable alternatives and less damaging to the environment. 

It may take some time until they are fully implemented, but change is coming. 

What Does Carbon Offset Mean? 

There are a lot of terms tossed around about eco-friendly practices – one of the big ones is carbon offsetting. What does it mean, exactly? 

In a nutshell, it means doing something good to offset the harm that has been done. For instance, if a company has released pollutants into the air, it may buy carbon credits to make up for the greenhouse gasses it emitted into the atmosphere. This could include planting trees to remove the carbon emitted. 

In other words, if a company says they are taking carbon offset initiatives, it means they recognize its business practices may have caused harm to the environment, such as the burning of fossil fuels in the aviation industry. And they are taking an initiative to invest in a carbon credit to offset what they’ve emitted. 

More and more companies are doing this in all types of industries. 

Eco-Friendly Practices in the Aviation Industry

Those in the aviation industry have vowed to make changes to better their eco-friendly practices. Many commercial airliners around the world have signed sustainable aviation fuel agreements to try to make a more positive impact on the environment and take carbon offset initiatives. These are really big changes and they won’t happen overnight. However, they are a step in the right direction for the future.

A few initiatives that many are looking to put into practice include: 

• Minimizing fuel consumption. To reduce fuel consumption, many airlines are taking steps to reduce the weight of airplanes. Since the heavier the aircraft, the more fuel it burns – reducing its weight can lower fuel consumption. 
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Using biofuels, such as a 30/70 blend of low-carbon, sustainable aviation fuel. Current biofuels work well, but their price is higher than regular jet fuel, making it a no-go for many airlines. Different types are being created to find something that will bring benefits without added cost. 
• Eliminating single-use plastics. Many airlines are taking the initiative to stop single-use plastics on their flights and in their ground operations. This is a small yet powerful step. 
• Carbon offsets. Carbon offset companies allow airlines and travelers to purchase carbon offsets to protect the environment. This may contribute to wind farms, planting trees, or other renewable energy sources. 
• Educating others – including passengers. They can show passengers the power of change by taking steps to be more sustainable and aware of the environment. Things they may not have thought about – such as single-use plastics – may spark them to change their lives. 

Carbon Offset Initiatives at Sun Air Jets

The team at Sun Air Jets is committed to making a positive change within our environment. They spend a lot of time in the sky and feel that taking steps to focus on sustainability practices is needed to make a difference in the future. 

Sun Air Jets has partnered with a leading carbon offsetting company, 4AIR, to reduce its carbon footprint and compensate for the carbon emissions that are released by its charter aircraft. The carbon credit they purchase allows money to be spent balancing the emission with sustainable solutions around the globe. 

By selling carbon offsets, 4AIR funds project that produce renewable energy and offset greenhouse gasses. Some of their projects include landfill gas capture, wind power, and abandoned coal mines. 

Importance of Carbon Offset Initiatives

Sun Air Jets purchased 4,452 metric tons in 2021 via Terrapass. And this goes to fund projects that offset the emissions. Did you know that 17,550 metric tons are equivalent to planting 290,000 trees? Powering over 2,100 homes with renewable energy? Recycling over 746,000 bags of trash? Taking 3,800 cars off the road? 

Sun Air Jets is doing its part to impact the environment positively with its private charter services. The aviation industry may not be the best at keeping the air clean, but they are making strides in finding alternative solutions and making better choices. 

With growing concerns about sustainability and eco-friendliness, aviation is a very visible target. Can private jet charter services be eco-friendly? The answer is, yes, they can. Responsible private jet operators are doing all they can to minimize their footprint. Today we will show you how this is being achieved.

Can Private Jets Be Eco-Friendly?

Private jets can be eco-friendly. In fact, there are many ways in which private jets can be a better solution than traveling via regular commercial means. Private jets can offer point-to-point travel with more direct routings. Often there are initiatives launched by companies to minimize their impact on the environment. Sun Air Jets, for example, provides sustainable aviation fuel, carbon offsetting, and its Camarillo FBO is certified as a Green Aviation Business with Tier 1 status by the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) 

Here’s how private jet charter services can be eco-friendly.

Private Aviation Uses Greener Fuel

While there has never been a greater emphasis on the world’s dwindling resources, aviation may have found an answer that is both environmentally friendly and sustainable. 

Many private jet operators have been early adopters of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Whereas traditional aviation fuel is produced from refined fossil fuels, SAF can be created both from organic matter and by recycling and processing existing man-made materials.

This step alone reduces carbon emissions by up to 23%. It isn’t just the use of fuels in engines that creates a carbon footprint. The extraction, refinement, and logistics involved in procuring fossil fuels all add up. 

This can be reduced by utilizing SAF as a more ethical choice.

Noise Reduction Policies

Environmental impacts are not purely about emissions. How aircraft affect the surrounding areas in other ways also needs to be borne in mind.

Responsible Private Jet Operators, such as Sun Air Jets, subscribe to schemes like the “Quieter Nights Program”. All operational staff are briefed on noise reduction procedures to ensure that the aviation business can coexist in harmony with its residential neighbors.

This doesn’t just include the aircraft themselves. It can also be promoted among other areas of the aircraft’s operation, including avoiding using loud machinery at night, delaying noisy maintenance procedures after a certain time, and showing general consideration to those who live around airports.

Green Hangars

Encouraging sustainability involves taking many small steps to achieve a great end result. Making all areas of a business more eco-friendly can yield fantastic results.

Green hangarage is a way that this has been achieved by private jet charter services.

While hangars occupy a large area, this makes the ideal place to establish renewable energy sources. Sun Air Jets presently has two green hangars fitted with an expansive solar rooftop system capable of generating a vast amount of solar-powered renewable electricity. 

Carbon Offsetting

At present, due to current limitations in technology, it isn’t possible to avoid some emissions in aviation. However, there are ways that we can strive to minimize and negate these emissions to smaller levels.

Carbon offsetting is a way this can be realized. 

Carbon neutral is a fairly easy term to understand. While we all await a time when no carbon emissions are created, carbon neutrality is an eco-friendly policy that eco-conscious operators should strive to achieve.

It is essentially a balance.

In short, it means that for every ton of CO2 released into the atmosphere, efforts are made elsewhere to remove a ton of carbon from the atmosphere. The end result is that there has been no carbon added to the ecosystem.

Carbon offsetting works by a company funding green ventures elsewhere that seek to reduce the carbon produced by the business’s day-to-day running. Instead of adding to the carbon, responsible companies will promote technologies and strategies, minimizing the impact. Examples of this could include: –

• The construction of renewable power sources such as wind energy or hydroelectric energy.
• Methane digestion technology
• Landfill methane flaring
• Tree planting and forestry

For each ton produced by a private jet operator, there will be a technology that reduces that ton to a neutral amount elsewhere. Companies like Terrapass even have the functionality to display how many tons aviation companies produce and how much they have offset against their carbon output.

Point to Point Travel

One of the benefits of flying private is that the aircraft operates at higher levels than most commercial airline traffic. As a result, they can take more direct routes, reducing the overall fuel burned on the route.

While there is no escaping the fact that combustion-powered jet engines produce emissions, private jets can minimize their total output by taking shorter routes and flying direct.

Another advantage can be observed by flying point to point.

Due to the size of the aircraft involved, private aircraft can often land in much smaller, more localized airports. The result of this ability is that passengers can arrive closer to their final destination, meaning smaller reliance on less efficient means of transport, such as a long drive, following arrival. 

Fewer Delays

Again due to the fact that smaller jets can operate into airports that bigger aircraft can’t access. There is less time spent waiting on the ground at runway holding points with engines going.

As a general rule, there is very little time spent between actually boarding and being on the way to your destination when flying private.

Also, because private jets aren’t bound by any set flying schedule, this also means that they can operate at off-peak times, avoiding air traffic congestion minimizing the total time that their engines are running. 

Sun Air Jets is committed to ensuring that its operation is as eco-friendly as possible. The future of flying private lies in being as environmentally conscious as possible. All of the policies and practices you have read about above have been adopted by Sun Air Jets to minimize our environmental impact and ensure the sustainability of our business. To learn more about Sun Air Jets’ sustainable aviation policies, we have a dedicated section on our website. You can also read more about our carbon offsetting programs and what we have achieved here.