A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in 2007, Curt came to&nbsp;the publication&nbsp;from the broadcast industry where he was a national science and technology television reporter and producer. He writes on the FBO field, aviation finance, and sustainable aviation and occasionally contributes to&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;sister publication&nbsp;Business Jet Traveler. Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year award for Best Airshow Daily. That same year, he was a finalist for another AJOYA award. He earned an AJOYA for Best Business Aviation Submission in 2018 and was a finalist in that category in 2021. He received the National Air Transportation Association’s&nbsp; Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.
Before joining AIN, Curt worked with&nbsp;Consumer Reports’ television division, CRTV, and for several local television news staffs. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University in 1995. Curt lives in New York State with his wife and two young sons.

Business Aviation Services Editor

Curt Epstein

A new <a href="https://www.iata.org/en/publications/economics/reports/global-feedstock-assessment-for-saf-production/">report</a> from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in partnership with Worley Consulting, concludes that technology implementation, not sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)&nbsp;feedstock availability, is the main pinch point in the ability of the aviation industry to reach net-zero carbon emissions goals by 2050. According to the study, hurdles remain in current technology, mainly the slow rollout of production processes besides HEFA, which uses used cooking oils and other fats to produce SAF.
As previously&nbsp;outlined in the organization’s net-zero <a href="https://www.iata.org/contentassets/8d19e716636a47c184e7221c77563c93/policy-net-zero-roadmap.pdf">roadmaps</a>, it is anticipated that airlines will require 500 million tonnes of SAF by 2050. The report notes that this supply will be from two main sources: sustainably-sourced biomass or power-to-liquid pathways that have been slow to enter commercial production.
In all cases, the group explained, it will be necessary to improve the efficiency of the production processes, accelerate technology implementation, improve feedstock logistics, and invest in the infrastructure required to scale up production.
“We now have unequivocal evidence that if SAF production is prioritized, then feedstock availability is not a barrier in the industry’s path to decarbonization,” said IATA director general Willie Walsh. “The potential to turn SAF feedstocks into real SAF production is in the hands of policymakers and business leaders, particularly in the energy sector. We have just 25 years to turn this proven potential into reality.”

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

New IATA Report: Technology, Not Feedstock, Limiting SAF Goals

Study urges investments in technology and infrastructure

A new IATA study says feedstock availability won’t be the limiting factor in the aviation industry reaching its 2050 net-zero carbon goals.

IATA: Technology, Not Feedstock, Limiting SAF Goals

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking funds further R&D for decarbonization efforts

EU Awards €945 Million to 12 ‘Clean Aviation’ Projects

Charlotte Bailey

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

New deal complements existing SAF offtake partnerships

Luxaviation Signs 15-year SAF Offtake Agreement 

Jim Stabile

Higher diversion altitudes allowed by onboard oxygen use reduce aircraft fuel burn

AINsight: Enhancing Sustainability Via Fuel and Oxygen

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Unifuel’s Flexiforming promises lower cost SAF

Promising SAF Production Process Enters ASTM Testing

Kerry Lynch

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

GHG emissions are down by 23% over 2019, and employee engagement exceeded target

Bombardier Marks Progress on Sustainability Goals

Sarah Rose

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In Environment

EU Awards €945 Million to 12 ‘Clean Aviation’ Projects

Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking funds further R&D for decarbonization efforts

Luxaviation Signs 15-year SAF Offtake Agreement

New deal complements existing SAF offtake partnerships

AINsight: Enhancing Sustainability Via Fuel and Oxygen

Higher diversion altitudes allowed by onboard oxygen use reduce aircraft fuel burn

Promising SAF Production Process Enters ASTM Testing

Unifuel’s Flexiforming promises lower cost SAF

Bombardier Marks Progress on Sustainability Goals

GHG emissions are down by 23% over 2019, and employee engagement exceeded target

New Tool Helps Aviation Cut Climate Impact

Reducing contrails may outweigh small CO2 increases, according to researchers at UC Irvine

Researchers Tackle Tradeoffs in Aviation’s Climate Impact

Simply reducing aircraft fuel burn is not necessarily the greenest strategy

NBAA Calls Climate Report on Bizjets Flawed, Incomplete

NBAA’s Bolen questioned why readers weren’t given information about environmental advances in business aviation

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