Air Data News
• Ricardo Meier
The UK’s Climate Change Committee says Heathrow’s proposed third runway is not currently compatible with national net-zero targets and carbon budgets. It recommends approval only if aviation funds the sustainable aviation fuel and permanent carbon removals needed to address the expansion’s additional emissions.
Sustainability & Climate Initiatives
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The UK’s Climate Change Committee says Heathrow’s proposed third runway is not currently compatible with national net-zero targets and carbon budgets. It recommends approval only if aviation funds the sustainable aviation fuel and permanent carbon removals needed to address the expansion’s additional emissions.
Singapore has delayed implementation of a levy on air cargo sustainable aviation fuel by one year. The postponement gives cargo operators and other industry stakeholders additional time before the policy takes effect, while extending uncertainty over the timing and cost of SAF-related compliance in the market.
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The Climate Change Committee says approval for a third runway at Heathrow should be contingent on stricter legislation requiring aviation to fund its own decarbonization by 2050. The government-commissioned report concludes the expansion is incompatible with the UK’s climate targets under current policy.
Sydney Airport has begun deploying 50 electric buses to replace diesel-powered vehicles, part of its effort to eliminate Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. The rollout targets airport ground transport operations and represents a direct investment in lower-emission infrastructure.
Hybrid-electric flight demonstrations at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 highlighted the aviation industry’s shift from exploratory research toward real-world aircraft development. The demonstrations offered a visible measure of how quickly electrification technologies are progressing toward practical application.
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Avio completes the second successful Vega C launch of 2026, deploying the European Space Agency’s FLEX and Copernicus Sentinel-3C Earth-observation satellites from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The mission places two science and environmental-monitoring spacecraft into orbit and demonstrates continued Vega C operations.
Cosmic Aerospace is developing the four-seat, all-electric Cosmic One as the FAA’s MOSAIC rule broadens the possibilities for light-sport aircraft. The program reflects how expanded regulatory allowances could enable new configurations and propulsion concepts in general aviation.
Rhode Island-based Regent Craft has flown its all-electric Viceroy seaglider with people aboard for the first time, advancing a vehicle designed for coastal transportation using wing-in-ground effect. The company says it plans to begin manufacturing commercial seagliders by the end of 2027, under a regulatory pathway distinct from conventional aircraft.
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