How Pratt & Whitney Helps Create a Greener World

Reducing aviation’s carbon footprint has become a key issue for the industry in recent years. But what are the leading players in the industry doing to help owners and operators?

With electric aircraft and sustainable jet fuels still years away from commercial viability, the most practical solution right now is for operators to offset their carbon emissions through activities that reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere.

For individual owner-operators and other small aviation companies, however, that’s easier said than done. Compensating for their carbon emissions could be a complex, time-consuming process requiring resources that these customers often don’t have at their disposal.

In response to this need, Pratt & Whitney has launched a Carbon Offset Service aligned with its sustainability vision that takes the entire process out of customers’ hands.

“Public awareness of climate change has reached new levels. Our Carbon Offset Service is a turnkey solution that allows operators to compensate for their CO2 emissions in a convenient way,” explains François-Étienne Rhéaume, Manager, Business Development & Commercial Services.

“We’ve put resources and expertise behind this initiative to be able to offer customers a cost-effective solution. Once they’ve enrolled in the service, we handle everything else.”

Easy for the customer

The service is available to all Pratt & Whitney-powered business jet operators who are enrolled in an Eagle Service Plan (ESP) maintenance program. Since these customers are already providing their monthly engine utilization hours to Pratt & Whitney, no extra effort is required.

“We’re already connected with customers who are eligible for the service and they’re giving us the relevant data. That means operators don’t have to do anything other than maintain their enrollment in the ESP program.”

Pratt & Whitney calculates the operator’s monthly emissions using a formula specific to each aircraft model and that factors in flying hours. It’s based on industry-recognized fuel consumption formula and provides a fair estimate of actual emission amounts.

Customers then pay a monthly fee for the Carbon Offset Service based on a fixed rate per hour. Since charges depend on the number of flying hours, they are predictable. There’s also no minimum amount, so if customers don’t fly, they don’t pay anything for that month – this is the case for ESP as well.

“The service breaks down the cost as you go, month by month, like the maintenance program, which facilitates budget management and provides cost transparency,” notes François-Étienne.

Working with a Recognized Carbon-Offset Collaborator

Pratt & Whitney then ensures that the estimated emissions are offset through investments in various carbon-reducing initiatives. These projects have been selected in collaboration with South Pole. Each meets stringent certification requirements and is audited to ensure continued compliance.

The three initiatives that Carbon Offset Service customers will be supporting are:

• Ensuring access to clean water in Rwanda
• Developing renewable wind energy in India
• Protecting Amazon basin rainforest in Brazil

“The relationship with South Pole is an important aspect of this service,” says François-Étienne. “As a leading provider and manager of carbon offset projects worldwide, they ensure a high level of third-party credibility. They also issue a certificate of carbon compensation to customers.”

Besides carbon offsetting, these projects benefit local communities by creating economic opportunities and improving quality of life.

“One hundred per cent of the fees that customers pay go toward the projects or the service’s administration costs, which are minimal,” notes François-Étienne, who adds that Raytheon Technologies, Pratt & Whitney’s parent company, is also excited to announce it will now leverage the same service to offset emissions from its corporate aircraft used for its operations.

The optional Carbon Offset Service is the latest addition to the ESP program. For more examples of improvements designed to meet customers’ diverse needs, check out Three New ESP Services Help Operators Maximize Availability.