FBO operator Signature Aviation has expanded the availability of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to all of its locations in California.

Business aviation users now have greater access to SAF in California, enabling them to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of their air travel when flying from Signature Aviation's private aviation terminals at San Diego International, Santa Barbara Municipal, Fresno Yosemite International and Palm Springs International airports. This brings SAF availability to all 10 of Signature Aviation's owned locations in California, the others being Los Angeles International, Long Beach, Oakland International, San Francisco International, San Jose International and Van Nuys airports.

SAF has been widely acknowledged as a key element in helping to achieve aviation's emissions reduction goals, with Signature's 30/70 fuel blend accounting for a 25 per cent reduction in carbon emissions. Together with Neste, the world's largest producer of sustainable aviation fuel, Signature is accelerating the business aviation industry's journey towards net-zero carbon emissions. This expansion of SAF availability is built on the existing partnership between Neste and Signature from 2020. Through the scope of the current partnership, Neste and Signature will deliver over 29 million gallons of blended SAF, reducing over 62 thousand tonnes of GHG emissions, equivalent to the emissions from more than 13,000 cars in a year.

“SAF is recognised as the most effective way to reduce the GHG emissions from air travel and is an important solution to reach the business aviation industry's pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” says Neste US president Chris Cooper. "Together, Signature and Neste are meeting the industry's growing demand by increasing the volumes and locations where customers can have easy access to SAF to achieve their bold climate goals.”

“Two years ago we announced our first permanent supply of sustainable aviation fuel for private aircraft in San Francisco. Since then, we've maintained a sharp focus on investing in the supply chain, collaborating with our customers and expanding availability with Neste. The result today is 10 Californian locations that can decisively provide the solution to reducing private aircraft carbon emissions,” adds Signature director, fuel operations Beatrice Batty.

This expanded availability is enabled by Neste's growing production capacity; Neste will be able to produce 515 million gallons of SAF (1.5 million metric tonnes) annually by the end of 2023. The company has a bold carbon handprint goal to help its customers reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 million tonnes annually by 2030, as well as to reach carbon neutral production by 2035.

For Signature Aviation, the expanded availability of SAF in California represents a central objective of Signature Renew, its company-wide sustainability initiative. As the first FBO worldwide to offer a permanent supply of SAF, Signature Aviation is continuing to provide a multitude of practical solutions to help operators work towards emission goals. To date, it offers a sustainable aviation fuel option for privately operated aircraft at aviation service facilities in California, Colorado, Washington, Alabama, Texas and the UK.

SAF delivers the performance of conventional jet fuel but with a significantly smaller carbon footprint on a life cycle basis. Using Neste MY SAF reduces GHGs by up to 80 per cent over the fuel's life cycle compared to using fossil jet fuel. Neste MY SAF is produced from 100 per cent sustainably-sourced, renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as used cooking oil from restaurants and animal fat waste. SAF is blended with conventional jet fuel and works seamlessly with existing fueling infrastructure and aircraft engines. Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a today solution, commercially available and in use worldwide.