Sustainability In The Air

In this episode, we talk to Alanna James, Managing Director Sustainability Initiatives at Hawaiian Airlines, who shares insights into the airline's distinctive approach to sustainability and the challenges of operating in an island environment.

Hawaiian Airlines, a 94-year-old company headquartered in Honolulu, faces unique sustainability challenges due to Hawaii's geographic isolation and vulnerability to climate change. James discusses:

1. The airline's deep connection to Hawaii and how it informs their approach to sustainability, which goes beyond environmental concerns to include economic and cultural sustainability.
2. The critical role of air travel in Hawaii, serving as an essential "highway system" for inter-island connectivity and supporting the state's tourism-based economy.
3. Hawaiian Airlines' roadmap to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, including fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, next-generation aircraft, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
4. The airline's ambitious goal to use 10% SAF by 2030 and the strategies they're employing to achieve this, including partnerships with SAF suppliers and efforts to develop local SAF production in Hawaii.
5. Exploration of innovative technologies like electric sea gliders for inter-island travel and the potential role of hydrogen-powered aircraft in the future.

Throughout the conversation, James emphasises the delicate balance Hawaiian Airlines must strike between maintaining essential air connectivity and preserving Hawaii's natural beauty and resources.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Diana Birkett Rakow, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs & Sustainability at Alaska Airlines, who shares how the airline is planning to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

Environmental Stewardship - Hawaiian AirlinesHawaii Renewable Fuels CoalitionHawaiian Airlines invests in Regent seagliders - ch-aviationHawaiian Airlines Commits to New Milestones on Path to Net-Zero Carbon Emissions - Hawaiian AirlinesAlaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines to Combine, Expanding Benefits and Choice for Travelers Throughout Hawai‘i and the West CoastAlaska Airlines’ multi-faceted approach to achieving net zero by 2040 - SimpliFlying

In this episode, we talk to Freshta Farzam, founder and CEO of LYTE Aviation, who shares the company’s innovative approach to developing a 40-seater eVTOL aircraft for regional travel and cargo transport.

Farzam discusses:

1. The inspiration behind LYTE Aviation’s focus on larger capacity eVTOLs, challenging the industry trend of smaller air taxis.
2. The company’s diverse eVTOL portfolio, which includes the 40-seat SkyBus, the SkyTruck for cargo, and a 19-seat version for business aviation.
3. LYTE Aviation’s target markets, including supplementing ferry routes and creating new regional air connections.
4. Why LYTE uses hybrid propulsion systems, combining turboprop engines with electric motors powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
5. The infrastructure requirements and partnerships necessary for high-capacity eVTOL operations, and how LYTE’s eVTOLs can transform global transportation in the next 10-15 years.

Farzam emphasises the potential of larger eVTOLs to disrupt regional transportation, and contribute to the aviation industry’s sustainability journey. She discusses the challenges and opportunities in developing new air routes and collaborating with existing transportation providers.

Looking to the future, Farzam envisions LYTE Aviation’s aircraft becoming a new norm in regional travel, potentially running on 100% hydrogen fuel.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Bonny Simi, Head of Air Operations and People at Joby Aviation, who shares how Joby has become one of the leading players in the eVTOL space. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

LYTE Aviation

From retro inspiration to futuristic mobility: LYTE Aviation’s SkyBus - SimpliFlying

LYTE Aviation partners with Crisalion Mobility on last mile transport - Revolution.aero

LYTE Aviation sets sights on mass transit eVTOLs - Aviation Week Network

Joby wants to alleviate the pain and frustration of getting from home to your airline seat - SimpliFlying

In this episode, we talk to Sian Andrews, SESAR Environmental Lead at NATS, UK’s leading provider of air traffic control services. She shares insights into how air traffic management can significantly reduce aviation’s environmental impact through innovative solutions and research projects.

Andrews discusses:

1. NATS’ role in making aviation sustainable through improved air traffic management, including their targets to reach net zero emissions by 2035.
2. The significant but often overlooked impact of contrails on climate change, explaining they can have warming effects comparable to CO2 emissions, particularly during nighttime operations.
3. The CICONIA project, led by Airbus and involving NATS, which aims to develop operational solutions for contrail avoidance while balancing fuel efficiency and air traffic management constraints.
4. The concept of “green route charging”, which aims to eliminate pricing incentives that can lead airlines to fly longer, less fuel-efficient routes to avoid high-cost airspace.
5. The Digital European Sky initiative, which combines various SESAR solutions to create a more efficient and environmentally conscious air traffic management system for the future.

Throughout the conversation, Andrews emphasises that while safety remains the absolute priority in air traffic control, environmental considerations have become increasingly important, with NATS being one of the few air navigation service providers regulated on environmental performance through their 3DI (three-dimensional insight) metric.

Looking to the future, Andrews advocates for a balanced approach that considers both operational efficiency and environmental impact to shape the future of aviation.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Maxime Meijers and Nicolas Meijers, co-founders of Estuaire, who share how their data platform can help airlines and airports make better sustainability decisions. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

NATS

NATS and SESAR – working together to deliver a Single European Sky

Leading the Way in Contrail Avoidance - NATS

How Estuaire’s data platform can help airlines and airports make better sustainability decisions

In this episode, we talk to Yann Cabaret, CEO of SITA FOR AIRCRAFT, the aircraft business arm of SITA Group. Cabaret shares how SITA’s technology can help airlines meet their sustainability goals through better operational efficiency and compliance management. He also shares insights into SITA’s digital platforms and solutions aimed at reducing aviation’s environmental impact.

Cabaret discusses:

1. SITA EcoMission, a new platform that helps airlines manage environmental compliance while optimising costs, bringing together different departments – from flight operations to finance – for better collaboration.
2. How SITA OptiFlight is helping airlines achieve up to 5% fuel savings during climb-out phase by analysing aircraft-specific data and providing recommendations to pilots.
3. The future challenges of balancing multiple environmental factors, such as choosing between CO2 emissions and contrail avoidance, and how technology can help make these complex decisions manageable.
4. The vital role of operational efficiency as one of the few immediate levers airlines can pull today to become more sustainable, rather than waiting for future technologies like hydrogen or electric aircraft.

Throughout the conversation, Cabaret emphasises that while compliance and reporting are important, SITA’s ultimate goal is to help airlines reduce their environmental impact through better data and decision-making tools. He notes that SITA’s solutions can help reduce compliance costs by 3% while reducing staff requirements by 30%.

Looking to the future, Cabaret expresses optimism about the future of aviation, citing developments in operational efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), new engine technologies, and especially the influx of young talent who believe in making aviation more sustainable.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Sian Andrews, SESAR Environmental Lead at NATS. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content visit green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:
SITA FOR AIRCRAFTSITA Eco Mission - SITANow more than ever fuel efficiency crucial to ops - Aerospace Tech ReviewBringing data science into the cockpit to reduce fuel burn and carbon emission - Aviation Week NetworkWhy flight paths matter more than you think for climate change - SimpliFlying

In this episode, we talk to Bertrand Piccard, renowned Swiss explorer, psychiatrist and clean technology pioneer. He shares insights into his ambitious Climate Impulse project that aims to set a historic precedent by flying a hydrogen aircraft around the world non-stop in 9 days.

Piccard achieved global recognition for completing the first non-stop balloon flight around the world and for co-piloting Solar Impulse, the first solar-powered aircraft to circumnavigate the globe. As the founder and chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation, Piccard continues to advocate for environmental solutions and push the boundaries of sustainable technology.

Piccard discusses:

1. The Climate Impulse project, aiming to fly around the world non-stop using liquid hydrogen, showcasing the potential of zero-emission aviation.
2. The technical aspects of the hydrogen-powered aircraft, including the challenges of storing liquid hydrogen at extremely low temperatures and the efficiency of fuel cells.
3. His vision for the future of sustainable aviation, emphasising the need for a shift towards more efficient technologies and practices beyond just hydrogen power.
4. His perspective on the current state of aviation, including his stance on ticket pricing and the need for a more sustainable approach to air travel.
5. The lessons learned from his previous projects, including Solar Impulse, and how these experiences inform his current endeavours.

Throughout the conversation, Piccard emphasises the importance of pushing boundaries in technology and human capability. Looking to the future, he expresses optimism about the potential of hydrogen in aviation, while acknowledging the challenges of implementation and the need for a holistic approach to sustainability in the industry.

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global, who shares how the developer is spearheading a new model of eco-tourism on the west coast of Saudia Arabia. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

Climate Impulse

Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard announces nonstop, round-the-world hydrogen flight - GreenAir News

This could be the first hydrogen-powered aircraft to fly non-stop around the globe - CNBC

Solar Impulse Foundation