A SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE (AND STILL LUXURIOUS) FUTURE
The private jet world never stands still, with improved performance and luxury standards announced with each major airshow and as manufacturers innovatively compete to meet discerning client expectations, often juxtaposed with an increasingly global green agenda.
For many years, private jet development has led the way in cutting-edge technology and acts as a proving ground for advancements that are introduced later to commercial aviation.
2023 witnessed the debut of remarkable aircraft models, with 2024 promising further excitement. Dassault’s elegant Falcon 6X leads the way, with the highly anticipated Falcon 10X close behind. Gulfstream, having released the G500/600 models in 2020, recently unveiled the subsequent G700/800 series. Bombardier’s latest model, the Global 7500, will challenge the ultra-long-range market.
Following an unprecedented surge in demand from corporate executives during the pandemic, jet production and new aircraft sales began to normalize in 2023. The used aircraft market remains strong, particularly for large cabin, long-range jets, and, interestingly, in 2022, a staggering 5.3 million private jet flights surpassed the long-held 2007 peak. With 22,000 private jets globally, the industry’s perception is unfavorable due to its environmental impact.
As of the start of 2024, two defining themes are shaping the future of private aviation: sustainability and autonomous operations.
In January of this year, climate activists took to the tarmac to once again protest aviation’s environmental impact. Their target was Farnborough Airport, a global private jet hub. Such locations are planned for these events, and flight safety is carefully managed; however, the message was reiterated loudly and clearly: private aviation is under focus in the global climate crisis. The industry has already acknowledged its lead role and has a well-developed roadmap towards sustainability—one that not only meets targets but also sets a precedent for the broader aviation community. Based on personal conversations with industry leaders, sustainability is now considered a legitimate objective rather than a reluctant afterthought.
For over a decade, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has been a priority for the industry. The raw emissions statistics on a per-passenger basis make for difficult reading, notwithstanding the economic benefits that private jets deliver. SAF is produced from renewable feedstocks and waste oils and reduces harmful emissions by 80% compared with fossil-based fuels, thereby delivering a bona fide solution.
©Guillaume Plisson for Bombardier
Gulfstream, in collaboration with engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney, recently completed the world’s first 100% SAF flight from their headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, to Farnborough, United Kingdom, and significant effort is underway to expand the network; 96 airports are operational at the time of this writing. Aviation can adapt to the climate crisis while still delivering the incredible benefits of private business and luxury travel. This is an impressive feat and only the beginning of the green aviation revolution.
In the search for alternative propulsion, electric-powered light aircraft have taken flight, with immediate popularity in flight schools and short-haul trips. Much like electric cars, these aircraft are simple: fewer moving parts mean easier maintenance, which is good news for anyone who has experienced their aircraft “going tech” just when they need it. Electric engineering has applications across a range of aircraft types.
Several entrepreneurial start-up manufacturers are competing for new market share in a new breed of electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft set to complete the first commercial flights at the Paris Olympics this summer. Similar in appearance to an oversized drone, these electric, pilot-operated aircraft are perfect for the short-range, direct hop from an international airport to the city centre. Current predictions are that around 500 VTOL aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2025, with a market capitalisation of USD 25 billion by 2030. These machines are impressive and beautifully designed; they certainly gained attention at the 2023 Dubai Airshow and won the hearts and minds of sceptics.
The real inflection point still lies ahead, fueled by hydrogen. Whether through hydrogen fuel cells or hydrogen combustion engines, emissions are only water vapour and heat. Logan Air recently announced it anticipates operating zero-emission hydrogen-powered flights on certain short-haul routes starting in 2027. While commercial hydrogen-powered flights are not anticipated to be widely available until the mid-2030s, the vision for clean skies is now realistic. We are fortunate to witness a future of aviation where sustainability, luxury, and technology coexist.
In the back of many people’s minds with these advancements is safety. This remains the sine qua non of the industry: all parties demonstrate an unwavering commitment. Pilots (who also wish to get back to their families at the end of a trip) undergo rigorous training to master the well-established technical intricacies of Flight Management Systems (FMS) and autopilot assistance. Progress is constant, and the next generation of these systems is bringing about a transformative shift.
©Guillaume Plisson for Bombardier
As an interesting case-in-point, Garmin Autoland is an impressive feature that is already operating on several light jets, including the groundbreaking HondaJet Elite II and the respected King Airs. Given a scene where pilots are incapacitated, perhaps due to a depressurisation event and onset hypoxia, autoland kicks in. Manually activated by a pilot or passenger, or automatically activated following a period of no flightdeck activity, the system coordinates precise decisions to aviate, navigate the optimal route to the safest airport, communicate with air traffic control, and with passengers—and completes a flawless and fully autonomous landing.
Autoland’s capabilities demonstrate a future where artificial intelligence has control. Companies like Natilus and XWing have already conducted autonomous test flights, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible through all phases of flight and ground movements. In remote, low-population areas and along standardised routes, real-world experimental cargo flights now operate, albeit with a vigilant and experienced safety pilot onboard, ready to intervene if needed.
The successful results suggest that soon, these pilots may transition from the flight deck to ground-based control centres, overseeing multiple autonomous flights simultaneously. The transition to fully autonomous passenger flights is still somewhat distant, perhaps not until the 2040s. Perhaps the greatest challenge for the industry is yet to come: winning public perception and trust in the latest generation of aircraft.