The report’s conclusions are based on a flawed extrapolation of flight-trajectory data, a methodology that fails to provide a complete analysis of the flights involved. As just one example of the data-sampling’s failings, the report’s authors admit their analysis excludes nearly 12% of flights due to “incomplete departure or arrival information.”

In a letter submitted to The Washington Post, Fast Company and other news outlets that covered the report, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said the report, and the journalists who wrote about it, failed to acknowledge that business aviation has reduced emissions by 40% over the past four decades, thanks to advances like more fuel-efficient engines and lighter airframes, or that today’s new aircraft are up to 35% more efficient than earlier models.

Also ignored in the coverage was the fact that business aviation – which is responsible for well under 1% of all transportation emissions – has set a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Similarly overlooked: the industry has a detailed plan to reach its net-zero goal with innovations such as sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF (which decreases lifecycle emissions by up to 80% compared to legacy fuels), the development of electric, hybrid, and hydrogen propulsion and other game-changing technologies.

“Why were readers left in the dark about this information?” Bolen’s letter asks.

As Bolen noted in his response, the report and articles miss a larger point: business aircraft are essential for the economy because they “allow companies to optimize efficiency, productivity and flexibility in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.”

Read an excerpt from NBAA’s letter to news media below:

First, the report’s authors draw their conclusions by leaning heavily on a dubious extrapolation of flight-tracking data that, by the authors’ own admission, includes a double-digit percentage of flights with “incomplete departure or arrival information.” This data shortcoming alone might be the study’s disqualifying flaw – after all, one likely wouldn’t make similarly definitive conclusions about emissions from other types of commutes without complete, verifiable departure and arrival information.

Second, in focusing on one study’s arguably skewed claims, the article overlooks other important, verified facts. For example, business aviation has slashed emissions by 40% over the last four decades, largely through the development of increasingly fuel-efficient engines and lighter airframes; in fact, new models of aircraft are up to 35% more efficient than their predecessors.

Equally important, business aviation – which accounts for less than 1% of all transportation emissions – has set a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 with further innovations, including sustainable aviation fuels (which decrease lifecycle emissions by up to 80% over legacy fuels); electric, hybrid and hydrogen propulsion; and other game-changing technologies. Why were readers left in the dark about this information?

Finally, in offering a distorted picture of business aviation, the article misses the larger point about its value: business aircraft allow companies to optimize efficiency, productivity and flexibility in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

Ed Bolen
President and CEO
National Business Aviation Association
Washington, D.C.