Hyderabad: Given the 21st century pace of internet speeds, the question for the business jet is straightforward — do we really need a jet? According to a report by Akamai, the worldwide average stands at 5mbps. So given the provisions of technology, the need for austerity and the scientific worries around climate change, should we as a species encourage a mode of transport beneficial for a select few? Consider the numbers. Reports say of the 15,000 business jets registered in the USA, only three per cent are in use by Fortune 500 firms. This reveals a possibility of world business and sustainability co-existing.
In India, business jet builders account for not over 30 active customers. We now come to fossil fuels. Planes don’t burn fuel in a linear method. Fuel is burnt depending on operating height, range, weather and weight. According to the Air Transport Action Group, the global aviation industry is responsible for two per cent of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. Given how exclusive the market for business jets are, they account for just 0.20 per cent of annual worldwide CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels. But remember this. Aviation is the fastest rising contributor of greenhouse gas emissions.
Planes are also delivering a concoction in emissions directly into the upper reaches of our precious atmosphere. Which is why the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said aviation emissions have about two times the impact as ground-based emissions. Manufacturers maintain they are being careful. “The Web turned the world into a global village and sometimes it’s important to meet people in the village, rather than a conference call,” said Vadim Feldzer of Dassault. The company currently has 22 clients in India.
Another operator handling Indian operations for a manufacturer said, “Makers are increasingly focusing on how to make planes cheaper and cleaner. The latest technologies going into engines address concerns voiced by environmentalists. We have our ears out.”
