In support of its ongoing sustainability efforts, North America-based FBO network Modern Aviation has developed a strategy to achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and is committed to achieving carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2050.

The company has identified a range of potential opportunities to incrementally reduce emissions through more effective energy management. These opportunities include improved hangar insulation, installation of LED lighting, improved lighting controls, increased daylighting in hangars and offices, in-slab radiant heating for hangars in cold weather regions, on-site installation of solar PV systems, procuring renewable energy sources as provided by local utility providers and conversion to electric ground support equipment. Modern is committed to pursuing these improvements at its FBOs where feasible, and to offsetting any remaining Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions with legitimate, high quality carbon offsets.

The company has also developed a formal strategy aimed at reducing the Scope 3 emissions associated with the aviation fuel used by its customers. While it believes this strategy will evolve over time in response to changes in aviation and fuel technology as well as industry practice, this multi-faceted approach will initially include:

- Expanding the offering of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to all its FBO locations as soon as practical and increasing SAF as a percentage of its total fuel sales across its network. Modern currently offers SAF at its Sacramento Mather airport location FBO in California;

- Increasing the percentage of SAF in blended fuel over time;

- Implementing a book-and-claim system to provide a SAF option for customers in locations where SAF is not physically available; and

- Continuing to offer high-quality carbon offsets to customers, partially subsidised by Modern, on a voluntary basis through its Carbonfund.org carbon offset programme.

In partnership with its fuel supplier Titan Aviation Fuels and its SAF partners, Modern launched SAF at its Mather airport FBO in Sacramento, California this year and intends to roll out SAF to its other airport locations in the future.

Another element of Modern's sustainability strategy is the electrification of company vehicles and ground support equipment over time. Earlier this month, the company placed its first order for a 5,000 gallon electric fuel truck from Rampmaster, that should be delivered in the first quarter of 2024. Further, Modern will be offering Tesla rental cars through its partnership with Hertz throughout its network. These vehicles are currently available at Modern Aviation's FBO at Centennial airport just outside Denver, Colorado.

CEO Mark Carmen says: “Since we founded the company in 2018, we've continuously focused on implementing industry leading methods to reach our sustainability goals as well as enabling our customers to do the same in the most economical way possible. We began offering our carbon offset programme in October 2019, and now we are proud to be committing to become carbon neutral as a company by 2050. Offering SAF to our customers in California, being an early adopter of electric refuellers and providing EV rental vehicles is just the beginning of our efforts to increase our commitment to sustainability. This is an important initiative to Modern, our team members and our customers.”