Sustainability In The Air

In this episode, we speak with Christina Cassotis, CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), who shares her ambitious vision for transforming the airport into a sustainable aviation hub. Cassotis discusses Pittsburgh’s unique position and innovative approach to aviation sustainability. She highlights several key initiatives:PIT has achieved a remarkable milestone as the world’s first fully off-grid major airport. Through a public-private partnership, the airport commissioned a microgrid in 2021 that powers its entire operation. The airport is developing three SAF production pathways: alcohol-to-jet technology using ethanol, fugitive methane capture, and hydrothermal liquefaction converting organic waste to fuel.Their hydrogen strategy includes testing hydrogen-powered ground equipment like snowplows, developing distributed production technology, and establishing themselves as a regional hydrogen hub supporting both airport and public transportation needs.PIT leverages unique assets including its location above the Marcellus Shale natural gas deposit, existing fuel infrastructure with export capability, Carnegie Mellon University partnership, and the region’s energy innovation legacy.Opening in 2025, their new LEED Gold terminal features rainwater capture systems, recycled construction materials, and a design optimised for origin and destination traffic, reflecting their evolution from a former US Airways hub.Throughout the conversation, Cassotis emphasises the importance of taking incremental steps toward sustainability targets, sharing knowledge across the industry, and maintaining a balance between environmental protection and operational efficiency. Her vision extends beyond Pittsburgh, aiming to create a model that other airports can learn from and adapt. If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Robb Etnyre, General Manager of Truckee Tahoe Airport. 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:Pittsburgh Airport aims to be a ‘trailblazer’ in SAF production - Aviation Week Network PIT Named Among World’s Best in Environmental Sustainability - Blue Sky NewsMaking Pittsburgh a global leader in green aviation - Carnegie Mellon University KeyState, CNX advancing transformational hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel hub at Pittsburgh International Airport - PR Newswire 

In this episode, we talk to Professor Robert Miller, Director of the Whittle Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, who shares why 2030 targets are crucial for the aviation industry’s transition towards net zero.Miller is also the head of the Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA), a collaboration between the Whittle Laboratory and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. The AIA recently released the “Five Years to Chart a New Future for Aviation” report which outlined 4 key Sustainable Aviation Goals, which, if achieved in the next 5 years, can help aviation reach net-zero by 2050. Miller shares insights into the recently released report and highlights several key issues:The misconception of smooth technology transitions, emphasising that historical precedents show abrupt changes with usually one dominant solution emerging, similar to VHS vs Betamax or cars vs horses.Operation Blue Skies which seeks to address persistent contrails by setting up “Airspace-Scale Living Labs”.The introduction of bold efficiency measures that could halve fuel burn by 2050, including reducing aircraft life from 30 to 15 years, flying 15% slower, and better matching aircraft to route distances.The challenges of scaling Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) within global biomass limitations, with potential ticket price increases ranging from 30%-90% depending on production method.The opportunity for hydrogen adoption in long-haul aviation, with potential for 10-30% fleet penetration by 2050, focusing initially on the 50 largest hub airports that consume half of global jet fuel.The importance of launching moonshot technology demonstrations by 2030, including cryogenic hydrogen/methane fuels, synthetic biology, and hydrogen-electric propulsion.Throughout the conversation, Miller emphasises the urgency of immediate action. He stresses that while only 10% of the global population has flown, expanding access to air travel must be balanced with aggressive decarbonisation efforts.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Dr Florian Allroggen, Executive Director, Aerospace Climate & Sustainability, and a Research Scientist in MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, who shares the science behind contrails, their climate impact, and practical solutions for mitigation. 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:Aviation Impact AcceleratorThe Whittle Laboratory  Five Years to Chart a New Future for Aviation - Aviation Impact Accelerator Cambridge report sets four goals to be implemented by 2030 for global aviation to reach Net Zero - GreenAir News 

In this episode, we talk to Anna Stukas, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at 1PointFive, who shares insights into how direct air capture (DAC) technology works and its crucial role in aviation’s journey to net zero. Stukas, who has been working in carbon capture since 2015, discusses her role in commercialising DAC technology and developing strategic partnerships to scale this critical climate solution.Stukas discusses:The fundamental role of DAC in climate action, explaining how it captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere through an engineered system that mimics natural processes but operates more efficiently and with a smaller land footprint than trees.The scalability of DAC technology, exemplified by the STRATOS facility in Texas which, once completed, will capture up to 500,000 tons of CO2 annually.The critical importance of industry partnerships, including Airbus’s pre-purchase of 400,000 tons of carbon removal and subsequent agreements with airlines like easyJet, Air Canada, and Lufthansa; as well as Microsoft’s landmark 500,000 metric tons purchase agreement.The secure storage of captured CO2 deep underground, where it mineralises into calcium carbonate over geological timescales.The integration with renewable energy infrastructure, with facilities like STRATOS being powered by adjacent solar installations, creating additional opportunities for clean energy development.The complementary relationship between DAC and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with DAC addressing residual emissions while potentially serving as a future feedstock for SAF production.Throughout the conversation, Stukas emphasises that while DAC is not a “get-out-of-jail-free card”, it represents an essential tool in aviation’s decarbonisation toolkit. If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Jane Ashton, Director of Sustainability at easyJet. 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:1PointFiveEctor County DAC - STRATOS - 1PointFive Occidental’s 1PointFive secures funding of up to $500 million from US DOE - Reuters 1PointFive announces agreement to sell 500,000 metric tons of direct air capture carbon removal credits to Microsoft - GlobeNewswire ANA and easyJet commit to buying carbon dioxide removal credits from 1PointFive’s Texas DAC facility - GreenAir News 

In this episode, we talk to Dr Florian Allroggen, Executive Director, Aerospace Climate & Sustainability, and a Research Scientist in MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, who shares insights into the science of contrails and their impact on aviation’s climate footprint.Allroggen discusses his role, focusing on understanding aviation’s environmental impact and developing solutions for a net-zero pathway. He highlights several key issues:The formation of contrails as ice clouds when aircraft exhaust meets cold atmospheric conditions, and their dual role in both warming and cooling the atmosphere.The comparable magnitude of contrail warming effects to CO2 emissions, with varying impacts depending on the timeframe considered – contrails having larger short-term effects while CO2’s impact accumulates over centuries.The potential for contrail avoidance through flight path adjustments, particularly by changing aircraft altitude rather than horizontal routing, due to the “pancake-like” nature of contrail-forming regions.The development of real-time contrail detection technology using NASA satellite imagery and machine learning, currently being tested with Delta Air Lines.The challenges of implementing contrail avoidance strategies, including the need for air traffic control coordination and the balance between fuel efficiency and contrail reduction.The need for a holistic approach to aviation sustainability, addressing both CO2 and non-CO2 impacts while maintaining safety.Throughout the conversation, Allroggen advocates for practical experimentation and implementation of contrail mitigation strategies, while acknowledging the uncertainties and challenges involved. He emphasises the importance of making robust decisions despite uncertainties, drawing parallels with everyday decision-making under uncertain conditions.If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with  Maxime Meijers and Nicolas Meijers, co-founders of Estuaire. 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:Impacts of multi-layer overlap on contrail radiative forcing - DOAJClimate - MIT LAE   Delta to work with MIT to study impact of airplane contrails on climate - CEHS How rerouting planes to produce fewer contrails could help cool the planet - MIT Technology Review How Estuaire’s data platform can help airlines and airports make better sustainability decisions - SimpliFlying