The Federal Aviation Administration has finalized its first-ever greenhouse gas reduction plan for large jets and other airplanes.
Under the new standards, manufacturers will have to meet a new metric called the specific air range, which is the distance an aircraft can fly on a unit of fuel. That will apply to commercial and business jets and turbo-propeller airplanes that go into service in 2028 or later and to new aircraft that are introduced after 2028.
In the past, FAA has set pollution standards for engines and other airplane components, but not for aircraft themselves.
“We are taking a large step forward to ensure the manufacture of more fuel-efficient airplanes, reduce carbon pollution, and reach our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement.
