Blakey: Commercial Aviation Is Doing Its Part

AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey praised  President Obama's remarks Wednesday in which he outlined a blueprint to achieve a long-term energy security policy for the nation. He highlighted the commitment of the U.S. Air Force to obtain half of its domestic jet fuels from alternative sources by 2016. 

"The commercial aviation industry is also doing its part to be a responsible environmental steward," Blakey (pictured, above) said in a statement released to the media following the President's remarks. "The Aerospace Industries Association, a founding member of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, is also part of an international coalition committed to 1.5 percent per year fuel efficiency gains annually through 2020, carbon neutral growth from 2020 and halving aviation's net CO2 emissions by 2050 compared to 2005 levels."

Blakey said this will be accomplished on multiple fronts, including the development of sustainable aviation biofuels. She said incentives to make aviation biofuels commercially viable will help meet today's challenges and save taxpayers money. Also critical, Blakey said, is the timely implementation of the Next Generation Air Transportation System. NextGen system efficiencies will reduce fuel burn and greenhouse gas emissions up to 12 percent by 2025 – the equivalent of taking 2.2 million cars off the road for one year.

"AIA and its members are committed to fuel efficiency and both biofuels and NextGen are critical to achieving the president's objectives," the statement says. "Innovative airframe and engine design have reduced commercial aviation fuel consumption by 70 percent over the last 40 years. We're looking forward to continuing that record of achievement."

FMI: www.aia-aerospace.org