CORPORATE PILOTS AS SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPIONS: BRIDGING FLIGHT OPERATIONS AND AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Increasingly, global concerns about the environment, regulations and calls for sustainability are pushing corporateaviation to make major changes. While most talk about sustainability in aviation stress technology and fuels, thisarticle points out that corporate pilots can also be real sustainability champions. Working at the meeting point of flyingand running aeroplanes, corporate pilots can help develop and implement environmentally friendly practices.This research states that corporate pilots can play a part in making sustainability decisions, not just with their flyingbut also by managing activities such as fuel, routing, aircraft performance and how materials are sourced. Additionally,when they participate in policy-making, engage stakeholders and collaborate with multiple groups, it becomes morelikely for sustainability cultures to appear in corporate flight departments. Promoting environmental care during pilottraining and standard flying practices is analyzed as a support for green flying by the airline.Using a mix of surveys, case evaluations and reviews of today’s environmental groups for aviation, the paper revealsthat pilots are helping to achieve environmental results. Critical factors examined are organizational indecision, a lackof knowledge about sustainable practices and inconsistencies between running the organization and protecting theenvironment.The article presents an approach that shows how corporate pilots can greatly assist sustainability by moving beyondtechnical duties to act as key leaders in making aeroplanes environmentally friendly.