EBAA Young Ambassadors Introduce STARS Program at EBACE

The goal of the STARS program is to foster a more holistic and sustainable approach to aviation. [File photo: Adobe Stock]

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) announced the launch of the STARS program at the National Business Aviation Association’s European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) event in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday. The program is dedicated to standards and training for aviation responsibility and sustainability.

It was started as a collaborative effort by young aviation professionals and aerospace companies to foster a more holistic and sustainable approach to aviation.

Some of the main focuses of STARS include:

Voluntary carbon offsetting
Emission monitoring and reporting
Waste and water usage risk assessment
Sustainability

While lowering emissions is top of mind, STARS plans to go above and beyond that and extend the concept to include social topics such as workplace diversity, gender equality, and inclusion.

“It’s very ambitious what these young people have done,” EBAA secretary-general Athar Husain Khan said in a statement.

The pilot STARS program in Europe has already amassed interest. Participants are working toward developing and introducing industry-wide sustainability standards.

The STARS is linked to the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) and the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH). These two global aviation code standards of best practice are produced by the International Business Aviation Council (BAC).

“We look forward to having the STARS sustainable and social practices connected to the premier industry standards for operations and ground handling as these actions align with the ICAO Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” IBAC Director General Kurt Edwards said in a statement. “This program will certainly contribute to a better future for business aviation and the communities we serve.”

The program’s schedule includes completion of the current pilot program by July, a progress audit in September and final feedback in October. Some organizations may achieve full STARS status by 2025.

carbon footprint Diversity EBAA EBACE emissions IBAC Inclusion NBAA Sustainability Training

Ashley BarajasWriter

Based in Texas, Ashley is the former Marketing Manager at FLYING and focuses deeply on training and education. She graduated from the Baylor Institute for Air Science with a Bachelor's in Aviation Science and holds an MBA specializing in Marketing. She is an also instrument rated private pilot and licensed FAA dispatcher.