US Federal Aviation Administration finalizes rule to reduce carbon pollution from new jets, turboprops

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration released a final rule Feb. 20 to reduce carbon pollution emitted by most large airplanes flying in U.S. airspace.

The rule requires incorporating improved fuel-efficient technologies for airplanes manufactured after Jan. 1, 2028, and for subsonic jet airplanes and large turboprop and propeller airplanes that are not yet certified.

“We are taking a large step forward to ensure the manufacture of more fuel-efficient airplanes, reduce carbon pollution, and reach our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker.

Examples of commercial airplanes that will be required to meet the standards include:

• The Boeing 777-X and newly built versions of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner

• The Airbus A330neo

• Business jets such as the Cessna Citation

• Civil turboprop airplanes such as the ATR 72 and the Viking Air Limited Q400

The rule does not apply to airplanes currently in service.

Civil aircraft such as these are responsible for 9 percent of domestic transportation emissions and 2 percent of total U.S. carbon pollution. 

The final rule, Airplane Fuel Efficiency Certification, can be found in the Federal Register.

This action is part of the U.S. Aviation Climate Action Plan that sets out to achieve net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions from the U.S. aviation sector by 2050. 

More information about the FAA and its environmental efforts can be found here.