Font size
Worksheets4AIR Education Baseline (2024)
Total questions: 73
Worksheet time: 40mins
True or False: Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a drop-in replacement for jet fuel.
True
False
What is the maximum approved blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?
25%
50%
75%
100%
What can Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) be made from?
Used cooking oil
Carbon captured from the air
Municipal solid waste
Forestry and agricultural waste
How does Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) reduce emissions?
By reducing emissions over the lifecycle of the fuel
By improving the efficiency of engines
By reducing the CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions produced by engines
By magic
True or False: You can only get the benefits of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) if it's available at your airport.
True
False
In addition to purchasing SAF, what are some other methods to reduce aviation activities' carbon footprint?
Purchasing carbon offsets
Making operational improvements or infrastructure upgrades
Replacing older aircraft with more fuel-efficient models
Using electric ground support equipment
What is a carbon offset?
The amount of carbon a governmental agency allows to be emitted
A verified avoidance or capture of one metric ton of carbon dioxide (usually denoted as one metric ton of CO2) from the atmosphere.
Planting trees in your backyard
The process of removing C from the O2
True or False, carbon allowances are the same as carbon offsets.
True
False
True or false: Carbon offsets are typically unverified by an independent party.
True
False
Other than CO2, which of the following pollutants are produced from jet exhaust?
Water vapor
Nitrous oxides
Aerosols
True or False: Contrails have little impact on climate change.
True
False
What are examples of carbon offset projects? (More than one may be a right answer)
Planting a tree in your backyard
Alternative energy production (e.g. wind and solar)
Kelp forest carbon sequestration
Efficient cooking stoves in less developed countries
True or False: Carbon neutral growth through verified carbon offsets is less than 1% of an aircraft's operating cost.
True
False
What is an ETS?
Emission Trading System/Scheme
Environmental Transmission Substance
Emergency Temporary Standards
Emitting Trading System
Today, approximately how many ETS programs are in place in some stage?
5
10
15
25
True or False: Most Emission Trading Systems (ETS) only apply to operators with an AOC from a country with an ETS in place.
True
False
Which statement is not true about ICAO's CORSIA?
115 states were participating as of January 1, 2023
Operators can use a mix of carbon credits, SAF, technology, or operational improvements to hit reduction targets
Its aim is to ensure carbon neutral growth for international aviation limited to 85% of the industry’s 2019 carbon footprint baseline
It applies to both domestic and international flights
The UK ETS is applicable to those who:
Operate aircraft with MTOWs greater than 5,700 kg (12,566 lbs)
Emit more than 1,000 metric tons of CO2
Fly to, from, or within the UK and participating member states
In 2021, roughly how many gallons of SAF were produced globally?
17 million
26 million
106 million
478 million
True or False: SAF used for offsetting CORSIA emissions must follow a CORSIA certification scheme.
True
False
How does climate change negatively impact aviation?
Increased flooding and storm damage to long-haul airports
Higher likelihood of icing, and expansion into higher altitudes
Increased clear-air turbulence from a faster jetstream
Worse takeoff performance from higher temperatures
EU ETS has an intermediate goal to reduce emissions by what percent in 2030?
35%
55%
85%
100%
ICAOs Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) applies to
Operators conducting international flights that produce more than 10,000 tons of CO2, and have an MTOW greater than 5,700 kg (12,566 lbs) unless otherwise exempt
Humanitarian, medical, and firefighting flights
All flights that cross an international border
All aircraft that produce more than 1,000 metric tons of CO2 annually
None of the above
True or False, if a flight is planned to a non-ICAO state and subsequently diverts to an ICAO state, the flight is exempt from reporting.
True
False
True or False: Under CORSIA, operators that meet the MRV requirements need to submit an Emissions Monitoring Plan.
True
False
What does ESG stand for?
Exceptional Social Gain
Economic Scale of Good
Ethical, Social, Good Governance
Environmental, Social, and Governance
True or False: Environmental sustainability is the same as ESG.
True
False
Which stakeholders are interested in a company's ESG program?
Lenders/Financial Institutions
Customers/Investors
Insurance Providers
Regulators
True or False: Implementing a sustainability program in the flight department could help improve the overall organization’s ESG efforts.
True
False
What actions can be taken by a flight department to improve ESG standing?
Switch to more energy-efficient lighting in office locations or hangars
Install solar panels on a building roof or replace any owned crew cars with electric vehicles
Aviation Fuel (SAF)
What does "additionality" mean for carbon credit projects?
A carbon credit from this project covers additional emission types
The activity from this project would not have occurred through business as usual
Additional co-benefits come with a credit from that project
A carbon credit from this project offsets all carbon emissions produced by an entity
True or False: SAF negatively impacts APUs and engine components.
True
False
What does “retired” mean for carbon credits from a project?
The credit is old
The credit has been legally claimed
The credit has been pulled from registries due to its issuance year
None of the above
Which of the following is true about SAF?
It is made from non-renewable resources
It produces zero “tailpipe” emissions compared to traditional aviation fuel
It can be used without any modifications to existing aircraft engines
It requires special fuel farm infrastructure
Which statement is true about the Alcohol to Jet (ATJ) process?
ATJ is a byproduct of creating SAF
ATJ is a method of capturing carbon emissions from aircraft
ATJ is a technique of recycling used cooking oil into fuel
ATJ is a method of converting renewable feedstocks into jet fuel
True or False: Under EU ETS, operators claiming the use of SAF must submit details on the procedures to trace data and documentation to prove the fuel’s sustainability.
True
False
What are some examples of future SAF feedstocks?
Algae
Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Forest residues
CO2 Captured from Industrial Processes or the Air
True or False: SAF can be used to reduce an operator’s offsetting requirement under CORSIA.
True
False
What is an example of Scope 2 emissions?
Business travel on an airline.
Employees commuting to/from work at the hangar
The vehicle emissions generated by delivering the catering order for the flight
A facility’s use of electricity
What is NOT an example of Scope 3 emissions?
Business travel on an airline.
Employees commuting to/from work at the hangar
Emissions generated by aircraft tugs and fuel trucks as an FBO
The emissions generated from the distribution of products
What is an example of a Scope 1 emission?
Aircraft emissions generated by a company-owned aircraft
The emissions generated by the fuel truck that’s fueling your aircraft
The vehicle emissions generated by delivering the catering order for the flight
The electricity generated for the hangar lighting
What does CDO stand for?
Complete Direct Omission
Certified Designated Operator
Continuous Descent Operations
Critical Deterrence Organization
True or False: Contrails produce a net warming effect at the Earth’s surface.
True
False
True or False: carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is the process of capturing carbon and storing it for a long period of time, typically in geological storage.
True
False
Which types of carbon sequestrations exist?
Biological
Geological
Technical
How much carbon dioxide can be stored using the geological carbon sequestration method?
10,000 metric ton
100,000 metric tons
3,000,000 metric tons
3,000 metric gigatons
How much CO2 can macroalgae, like kelp, sequester in a year?
1 million tons
5 million tons
100 million tons
200 million tons
True or False: Direct air capture extracts CO2 directly from the ambient atmosphere.
True
False
In 2010, the FAA launched the CLEEN Program. What is it?
Carbon Lowering Engine Emissions and Neutrality
Carbon Lowering Environmental Emissions and Noise
Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise
Carbon Lessening Emissions and Energy NextGen
What are some of the goals of the FAA CLEEN Program?
Certifiable aircraft technology that reduces aircraft fuel burn
Reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions
Certifiable aircraft technology that reduces noise levels
Supporting the certification and qualification of SAF blends greater than 50%
True or False: A diverse range of fuels and propulsion will be needed to power aircraft in the future.
True
False
What is the main difference between "green" and "blue" hydrogen?
Green hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels, while blue hydrogen is made from renewable resources
Green hydrogen is made from grasses and other vegetation, while blue hydrogen is made from water
Green hydrogen creates CO2 emissions, while blue hydrogen does not
Green hydrogen is produced using electrolysis with renewable energy sources, while blue hydrogen is produced from fossil-based sources but captures and sequesters the CO2 it creates
Contrails form when...
Aircraft fly through an ambient air mass that is hot and humid
Water vapor coming out of the tailpipe condenses and freezes around aerosols
Aircraft burn fuel that contains a prist additive
Aircraft fly through a low-pressure area that is cold and dry
What are the different categories of contrails?
Short-lived, Persistent (non-spreading), and Persistent (spreading)
Low-level, Mid-level, and High-level
Small, Medium, and Large
None of the above
Where in the atmosphere do contrails most typically form?
Below 10,000 ft
Between FL320 and FL420
Between FL120 and FL240
Above FL450
What is the largest impact on the environment caused by contrails?
During daytime hours cirrus induced by contrails can reflect solar radiation, and cool the earth's surface
Persistent contrails can trap heat and warm the earth’s surface
They can cause rain and combine with other clouds to form large storms
None of the above
True or False: Contrails can be avoided.
True
False
True or False: Book and claim decouples the physical uplift of SAF from the CO2 reduction claim.
True
False
What is a carbon footprint?
A device that measures carbon in the atmosphere
The measurement of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted by a person, group, or entity
The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere
None of the above
As a flight department, what might be potential sources of CO2 emissions attributed to your operation?
The fuel consumed by the GPU
The emissions from the generation of electricity used to power the hanger/office
The emissions from the catering delivery van
The repositioning of crew on the airlines to/from an aircraft
True or False: An operator needs to only be concerned about their carbon footprint.
True
False
How can an operator mitigate their carbon footprint?
By increasing the speed of flights to minimize time in the air and reduce emissions
By reducing cabin pressure during flights to conserve fuel and lower emissions
By optimizing flight routes, using SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuels), and using carbon offsets
All of the above
What emissions threshold would a non-commercial aircraft operator have had to surpass last year to be required to comply with the United Kingdom Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) in 2024?
500 mtCO2
1,000 mtCO2
2,000 mtCO2
3,000 mtCO2
Approximately how much sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) was produced globally in 2023?
10 million gallons
134 million gallons
158 million gallons
1 billion gallons
Which of the following was NOT a sustainable aviation fuel policy progression in 2023?
Illinois State Senate Bill 2951, creating a $1.50/gallon excise tax credit for SAF purchased in-state
The US Treasury issuing guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) credit of 2022
Minnesota Bill SF 2753, creating a $1.50/gallon refundable tax credit for SAF produced or blended in-state and sold for use in planes departing Minnesota airports
California State Senate Bill 438, creating a $1.25/gallon tax credit for SAF purchased in-state
California recently enacted 3 climate disclosure laws. Why do they matter to business aviation?
Although these are CA laws, they are likely to affect and include businesses across the US
They govern seemingly simple actions, like making climate-related claims about your business or your products
For qualifying companies, action will be required to participate in annual or biannual reporting, or at the very least providing information to your ESG team
How much sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is predicted to be produced in 2024?
27 million gallons
500 million gallons
820 million gallons
1 billion gallons
Illinois passed the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Purchase Credit in 2023, providing a credit of $1.50/gallon of SAF. How can business aviation operators qualify for the credit?
Any aircraft owner or operator that purchases SAF produced in Illinois can qualify
Any aircraft owner or operator that purchases SAF in Illinois, departing for domestic or international flights
The credit is only available to Air Common Carriers, meaning operations under Part 135 would qualify but likely not 91, 91(K) or 125
Business aviation operators cannot qualify, as this credit is for blenders and producers or SAF.
In 2023, Minnesota approved a $1.50/gal SAF tax credit as part of their Omnibus Transportation Law. How will business aviation benefit?
Any business aviation operator can qualify for the tax credit by uplifting SAF in Minnesota, but it doesn't have to be produced there
This tax credit is for producers and blenders, and the hope is that business aviation operators will benefit from lower-cost SAF as a result
Any business aviation operator can qualify for the tax credit if they uplift SAF produced in Minnesota
Similar to the new Illinois SAF Purchase Credit, only Part 135 operators will qualify
Which of the following is not an impact of the most recent Refuel EU update? (adopted by the Council of the EU in October 2023)
It prohibits tankering as a mechanism to avoid uplifting SAF
It mandates that operators must monitor and offset contrail creation
It imposes new reporting requirements on some operators to report traditional Jet-A and SAF at major "Union" airports
It mandates that fuel suppliers distribute a progressively higher minimum proportion of SAF to major EU airports over time
What climate policy impacting aviation are we expecting clarity or developments on in 2024?
New states potentially implementing their own low-carbon fuel standards, such as Illinois and New York
Whether the SEC will adopt their 2022 proposal to enhance and standardize climate-related disclosures
Clarity on the US SAF Blender's Tax Credit
True or False: Purchasing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) via book and claim has no comparable concept -- it's a new accounting process that the aviation industry is determining in real-time.
True
False
What is SAF book and claim?
It is a chain of custody model for fuel that uses a detailed accounting and tracking process.
It is a process that decouples the sustainability attribute from the actual physical product to separately sell the environmental claims from the lifecycle CO2 reduction.
It is an in-sector reduction for the aviation industry, replacing traditional JetA with sustainable aviation fuel elsewhere in the fuel pipeline.
