Elite Traveler Summer 2022

Alvadi Serpa-Junior Director, Embraer

Last year Embraer announced Energia, a family of concept aircraft designed to meet its net-zero carbon emissions goal. The four types will seat nine to 50 passengers, with the fi rst models ready between 2030 and 2040. The Energia family will test hybrid-electric propulsion, full electric propulsion, hydrogen-electric propulsion and hybrid SAF/Jet-A turbine propulsion. That’s not all; Embraer is aiming to have all its airplanes SAF-compatible by the end of the decade. That’s in addition to Eve, its eVTOL unit being spun o ff via an IPO this year. Embraer’s director of product strategy Alvadi Serpa-Junior says sustainability has been part of the Brazilian OEM’s approach for over 40 years. From breakthrough ideas like Energia to incremental gains, he tells Elite Traveler that no challenge is too small or too big. How long has sustainability been on the agenda at Embraer? Since 2001 we have been certi fi ed by ISO to meet environmental management standards. However, if you look back in time, we have always been about building the right airplanes for the missions. In 2004 we converted the Ipanema into an ethanol-powered airplane, and we have produced over 550 units of that airplane, fl ying over two million fl ight hours. This prevented more than 330,000 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. What’s next? In 2021, we set very bold ESG targets. Our objectives are carbon-neutral growth starting this year and to be carbon neutral by 2040. That includes 100% use of renewable energy in our operations, SAF, etc. When it comes to the emissions generated using our aircraft, the

the tests, we will start studying hydrogen fuel cell technology in 2025. Then we will go into the Energia family, a family of four concept aircraft, and we will test di ff erent clean technologies, so we want to understand how these aircraft will behave, using hydrogen on one fl ight and SAF on the next. embraercommercialaviation.com

goal is to be net-zero by 2050. To achieve net-zero emissions we must change the way we design airplanes. These are big investments. One is an electric propulsion demonstrator that is now fl ying tests. We converted the Ipanema to an electric aircraft, and it is now doing fl ight tests so we can better understand the electri fi cation technology. This will help us with Eve. Once we fi nish

If private aviation’s move to reducing carbon emissions is a recipe with many ingredients — big, small and each playing a role — 4Air is an example of how this uber-competitive industry is cooperating to make the planet greener. 4Air was launched by Directional Aviation, whose portfolio includes fl ight providers Flexjet, Sentient Jet, FXair, PrivateFly, MRO Constant Aviation and training platform Simcom Aviation, among others. Founded in 2020, 4Air is led by Kennedy Ricci, son of Kenn Ricci, Directional founder and principal. “Sustainability is like safety. It’s a place where the industry cooperates. This industry is di ff erent than others, and there was a need for a solution Kennedy Ricci President, 4 AIR

memberships. It’s also a 4Air client. As a private aviation-speci fi c solution, instead of just being a provider of o ff sets to dozens of industries, 4AIR created an industry- fi rst rating system to compare commitments between companies, educate fl yers and promote e ff orts that exceed industry goals. The key is its focus on total emissions, meaning non-carbon output that also impacts the environment. “4Air’s services go beyond just the idea of addressing carbon emissions. With Clay Lacy (which o ff ers a range of private aviation services from charter and management to repairs and FBOs), we assist with long-term sustainability and procurement plans, including waste, water and energy reduction strategies; access to carbon

o ff sets; and renewable energy credits,” Kennedy Ricci tells Elite Traveler , adding, “For some corporate fl ight departments [Clients include Fortune 500 players in fi nance, healthcare, tech and manufacturing] and other partners, we go beyond carbon footprinting and o ff sets to documenting and fi nding access to SAF, gathering and summarizing key environmental data for their ESG reporting, and assisting with procurement and recycling programs to reduce onboard waste. 4Air looks at sustainability from a truly comprehensive perspective and can assist in applying an array of best practices to each of these environmental areas.” 4air.aero

nuances you can only get if you are part of the industry,” says Jamie Walker, president and CEO of Jet Linx Aviation, which provides aircraft management and sells jet card

where the providers had a deep understanding of the industry’s

Photo Tony Taafe