How to Sustainably Fly Domestically

Commercial aviation has made exploring every part of the country easier than ever. It keeps families connected, opens up a world of possibilities for your career, and gives you an easy way to see the exciting things you've always wanted to see. Unfortunately, flying is a substantial source of our country's greenhouse gas emissions.

Fuel-burning planes produce almost a billion tons of CO2 annually. So is it possible to take domestic flights sustainably?

AAM Aircraft: The Future of Domestic Air Travel

The growing concern about the aviation industry's environmental impact has paved the way for exciting innovations. Advanced air mobility (AAM) is a concept that will change air travel.

Today, the only way to fly domestically is to go to the airport and hop on a traditional jet turbine airplane. But AAM will present newer, more efficient options. These aircraft utilize advanced propulsion systems that are greener, more efficient and more flexible.

One type of AAM is vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. VTOL doesn't require airstrips or massive infrastructure to operate. Like the helicopters you see buzzing overhead, VTOL can lift off vertically, hover and zip through the skies with greater agility.

The unique propulsion systems can connect cities and underserved communities. Airlines and operators can also use AAM aircraft to create new point-to-point markets, letting you bypass congested airports in favor of new pick-up points and routes. But that's not all.

VTOL aircraft are inherently more efficient than the fuel-burning planes we use today. They're so efficient that many concepts use hybrid-electric systems. Here's where the AAM can create more sustainability in aviation than ever before.

With a hybrid-electric propulsion system, VTOL can reduce carbon emissions up to 76 percent per passenger mile! The aircraft can perform short hops, short-range travel and complete long-range domestic routes.

For shorter flights, the VTOL will run on battery power. An all-electric trip produces zero emissions for hundreds of miles. Hybrid systems take over once the battery depletes, allowing VTOL to achieve a flight range of 750 miles. The most exciting VTOL concepts can offer a far more sustainable way to travel existing domestic air routes while creating new ones.

Read a similar article about electric commercial aviation here at this page.