Future pilot’s optimistic for Jetstar’s newest aircraft to take off

Aviation student Lachlan Wadling, is excited for what’s in store for sustainable aviation. Photo: Supplied.

The aviation industry is once again changing to meet sustainability targets, with Jetstar unveiling plans for its newest aircraft fleet. The consistent innovations and work towards creating more environmentally sound options, is leaving future pilots more eager than ever to enter the industry.

Lachlan Wadling, 21 is studying a Bachelor of Aviation at the University of New South Wales and is feeling hopeful about his future career as a pilot.

“There is a lot of research and effort being put into developing sustainable aviation, with the amount of pressure from consumers means there has to be change,” he says.

“Australia doesn’t currently manufacture aircraft, so we have to do what we can to make sure everything else is as sustainable as possible. There are companies already showing an excellent job of this, as seen by the work of Jetstar.”

Jetstar have unveiled 38 new NEO aircraft that will arrive in Melbourne in the coming months. These airplanes however, have been purposely designed for more ecological friendly travel. The planes are set to save almost 350 tonnes of CO2 emissions, just by minimising the amount of paint used.

Jetstar will use a two coat ‘basecoat-clearcoat’ approach that will reduce the paint work of the planes by 30 per cent, making the planes 15 per cent more fuel efficient.

Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans has stated in a press release that he is optimistic about the opportunities ahead for Jetstar, and that it is “representing a new era of flying.”

“These modern aircraft are world-class in terms of performance, comfort and sustainability, ensuring our customers will enjoy a new range of benefits on board,” he says.

Jetstar’s paintwork is set to have a makeover. Photo: Unsplash Images

According to the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), globally in 2019, flights produced 915 million tonnes of C02.

However, with increased pressure from travellers and the introduction of net-zero targets, with the Qantas Group committing to net-zero by 2050, the aviation industry is continuing to improve.

“In order for this industry to survive, we are seeing constant research and development within the field,” says Wadling.

“From the starts of the manufacturing of electric aircraft, to more sustainable aviation fuel options, there’s definitely enough driving forces to push this industry to at least be carbon neutral.”

Although, like many others, Wadling is unsure behind the motives of the aviation industry’s carbon offset programs.  These programs, are put into place by airlines such as the Qantas Group to help achieve an eventual carbon neutral status, however, have been criticised by organisations such as Greenpeace for “greenwashing.”

“Sometimes offsetting carbon doesn’t necessarily work, as the offsets could be guaranteeing the saving of a rainforest when it was never endangered in being logged in the first place,” Wadling says.

“I prefer to see sustainability in action by seeing more fuel-efficient engines made or less paint on an aircraft.”

Wadling sees a bright future ahead for sustainable aviation.

“People need to travel and these changes won’t be made overnight. But I am optimistic that the industry could quite easily become carbon neutral in the next 30-50 years.”