SAFs, which can be made using excess biomass like corn, oilseeds, and municipal solid waste streams, claim to offer one possible solution to not cooking the planet. According to the Department of Energy, around 1 billion tons of biomass could be collected each year in the U. Even better, most current commercial airlines can already implement a blend of SAFs without any major modification to the actual aircraft.
All sounds great. Corn-based fuels, for example, could take land out of the rotation for growing food. Sugarcane-based fuels could lead to deforestation, which itself is a huge source of carbon pollution. Still other types of fuels, like those that rely on animal fats, could divert resources away from industries that already use them.
Animal fat is currently used for heating. SAFs have caught the U. Electrifying aircraft would negate the need for any of these fuels. Though there are a number of companies and startups exploring the possibility of electric flight, current limitations in battery technology make these options far less efficient than jet fuel.
As of , jet fuel yielded about 14 times as much usable energy as a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery. Batteries are also extremely heavy, making them poor options for long-range travel. But that will likely have a top range of miles kilometers at best.
The desire to quickly adapt to the changing needs of our customers presented us with a unique opportunity to look for new and innovative ways to safely serve our customers and will ultimately help us bounce back stronger than ever. Uniting the World.
This is why this past year, we have taken important steps to do the right thing for our employees, our customers, the communities where we live and fly, and of course, for our planet. At the start of , we named Jessica Kimbrough as our diversity, equity, and inclusion officer to elevate the important work we are already doing in this space.
And when it comes to our people, we are developing a more strategic approach to hire, develop and advance employees that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and are keeping ourselves accountable by measuring our outcomes.
This commitment also extends to our relationships with our business suppliers and non-profit partners.
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