Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Officials from Boeing and Zero Petroleum signed an agreement at the Dubai Airshow to speed up the development of synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made using the Fischer–Tropsch power-to-liquid process. Developers designed the SAF for use as a 100 percent drop-in fuel, not mixed with jet-A, and naturally containing aromatic compounds that prevent rubber seal damage, according to Zero founder and CEO Paddy Lowe.
“This region is particularly [suitable] for synthetic SAF,” he said, because no base of agricultural feedstocks exist in the Middle East. Other SAF manufacturing processes use such feedstocks, which are more available in countries with large agricultural regions. Because the amount of agricultural feedstock limits how much SAF can be made using those processes, there is no limit on how much synthetic SAF can be produced, he explained.
Synthetic SAF is made from carbon captured from air, using renewable energy for electricity to make hydrogen through electrolysis from water. In June, Zero opened its synthetic fuel plant and development laboratory (Plant Zero.1) in Oxford, UK. The company plans a commercial-scale facility (Plant Zero.2) and expects construction to start next year. Once running it will be able to produce 5,000 to 100,000 tonnes of SAF per year.
The agreement calls for Boeing to set up a testing program for Zero's SAF&nbsp;at the University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) and its SAF research facility.
“In order to get to sustainable aviation and decarbonize aviation, we need to focus on the biggest lever, and SAF is 65 percent of that opportunity in terms of all the other levers that we have to move,” said Sheila Remes, Boeing v-p of environmental engagement and business development. Fleet renewability and operational efficiency represent the other levers. “So 65 percent of the solution is in front of us,” she noted.
At the last Farnborough Airshow, Boeing signed a partnership agreement and became a founding member of the Sheffield Energy Innovation Centre. “We’re the first OEM to sign up for that,” she said. “This is the perfect combination of bringing together government and an innovative company with an academic institution so we can actually help to scale sustainable aviation fuel.”

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

Boeing Agrees To Further Sustainable Aviation Fuel Development

SAF is needed to help the Middle East reduce emissions

Synthetic SAF is made from carbon captured from air, using renewable energy for electricity to make hydrogen through electrolysis from water. 

Boeing Agrees To Further SAF Development

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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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.

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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.

Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur teams with hydrogen business jet developer 

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Partners will prioritize applications in Brazil and the U.S.markets

Hitachi and Eve Team to Provide eVTOL Charging 

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

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.

Energy group supported flight pioneers in the 1920s

Air bp Marks Centennial of Aircraft Refueling Service

Chad Trautvetter

U.S. still relies on imported oil from Middle East for jet fuel

World Fuel: U.S. Jet-A Supply at ‘Critical Levels’

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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.

All fuel types showed increases versus March

U.S. Aviation Fuel Prices Rise across the Board

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

EASA and Eurocontrol are considering measures to save aircraft fuel 

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News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

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.

Dubai Airshow 2023

In this article

Boeing

More In Fuel

Beyond Aero and French Airports Prepare for H2 Flights

Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur teams with hydrogen business jet developer

Hitachi and Eve Team to Provide eVTOL Charging

Partners will prioritize applications in Brazil and the U.S.markets

Air bp Marks Centennial of Aircraft Refueling Service

Energy group supported flight pioneers in the 1920s

World Fuel: U.S. Jet-A Supply at ‘Critical Levels’

U.S. still relies on imported oil from Middle East for jet fuel

U.S. Aviation Fuel Prices Rise across the Board

All fuel types showed increases versus March

Safety Guidance May Prompt Shift in Fuel Tankering Rules

EASA and Eurocontrol are considering measures to save aircraft fuel

AINsight: Fuel Crisis Could Be Tough Test for Bizav

Charter operators incur sharps spike in fuel costs

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The war with Iran is having lasting effects on aviation.

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