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Tag: Rainforest

Embraer and Brazilian Army complete first test of M200 Vigilante radar

Parintins, Brazil, August 25th, 2023 – Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) and the Brazilian Army have successfully completed the first test of the M200 Vigilante radar, including the deployment of the equipment on the KC-390 aircraft from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The radar operation was carried out at Júlio Belém Airport, located in Parintins, during June and July. The Parintins City Hall, Júlio Belém Airport, and Viracopos International Airport also supported the initiative.

The location was chosen due to the Parintins Folkloric Festival, an event that causes a significant increase in air traffic in the region. Thousands of visitors accessed the city this year through Júlio Belém Airport, resulting in more than 800 landings and takeoffs in one week. The M200 Vigilante radar was transported for the first time on a KC-390, on a three-hour journey between Campinas, in São Paulo state, and the city located in the Amazon rainforest. The sensor continuously monitored air traffic within a 200 km range of the airport, working together with CINDACTA IV flight controllers. CINDACTA IV is the Brazilian Air Force agency responsible for flight monitoring in the northern region of the country.

The M200 Vigilante radar is a medium-range sensor aimed at Air Surveillance and Early Warning applications. Using advanced processing techniques, it can identify and track positions and trajectories, as well as classify targets. It has an integrated power generation system, which guarantees operation autonomy for up to 48 hours and ease of transport by land and air platforms.

Hawaiian Airlines Launches Design Collaboration with Kealopiko

Collection of amenity kits and travel products celebrate Hawai’i’s culture and environment

HONOLULU, Nov. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ –– Hawaiian Airlines (HA) has teamed up with Moloka’i-based brand Kealopiko to launch a new line of in-flight amenities carrying a message of sustainability. Starting Nov. 26, guests traveling between Hawai’i and the carrier’s international and select U.S. mainland destinations will relax with amenities and soft goods adorned with coral and fern patterns that pay homage to Hawai’i’s delicate natural resources.

The exclusive collection reflects the two companies’ shared commitment to perpetuate Hawaiian culture, care for the environment and steward island visitors. Named ‘Ēkaha – the Hawaiian name of black coral representing a thriving coral reef, as well as the bird’s nest fern, an indicator of a healthy rainforest – the line alludes to the deep, symbiotic relationship between the land and sea.  

“This collaboration gave us and Hawaiian Airlines an opportunity to design a beautiful collection that also shares a significant moʻolelo (story),” said Jamie Makasobe, co-owner of Kealopiko.

Kealopiko was founded by three women passionate about sharing the rich culture of Hawai’i, protecting the environment and operating as an eco-conscious brand. The company’s production is done in a small shop on Moloka’i, where organic materials are sustainably dyed, cut and sewn by hand before being sold online or in its downtown Honolulu store. Each of their designs honors indigenous wildlife, language, practices, aliʻi (royalty), kūpuna (elders and ancestors), and moʻolelo (stories and history).

“Embarking on this redesign, we knew we wanted a partner who could help us tell the stories of our island home,” said Avi Mannis, senior vice president of marketing at Hawaiian Airlines. “Kealopiko is a natural fit. Their sustainable production and bold, contemporary design align with our values and complement the flight experience we want to offer our guests.”

International Business Class and JFK/BOS First Class guests will be given a Hawaiian Airlines-branded canvas clutch, available in two different colorways, with the coral print and a coconut shell button. International guests seated in Extra Comfort will receive a natural felt pouch with a wood tag engraved with the ‘Ēkaha story.

Both kits include the following amenities:

  • Bamboo comb 
  • Comfortable socks with Hawaiian Airlines “slipper” design (international Business Class and JFK/BOS First Class only) 
  • Dental kit including a bamboo toothbrush with charcoal bristles and toothpaste 
  • Earbuds (international Extra Comfort only) 
  • Earplugs 
  • Hand and body balm, lip balm and hydrating mist from the airline’s private skincare line Lōli’i 
  • Premium sleep mask 
  • Sample packet of Raw Elements USA reef-safe sunscreen, which Hawaiian, the sun care company’s official airline partner, introduced onboard in April 2018. 
  • Packet of tissues

Guests seated in the Main Cabin on international flights, First Class on North America red-eye flights, and First Class on Papeete and Pago Pago will receive a coral print kraft paper pouch with earplugs, earbuds and a sleep mask in one of three collectible, Hawai’i-inspired designs.

All amenity kits feature eco-friendly paper packaging, furthering Hawaiian’s effort to reduce single-use plastics in its fleet and throughout its operations.

“Our partnership with Kealopiko advances our company’s progress to reduce waste, bring sustainability into our cabin, and encourage our guests to join us in taking care of our environment,” added Mannis.

In addition to designing Hawaiian’s in-flight products, Kealopiko is releasing a limited ‘Ēkaha Collection clothing line. The apparel will be available for purchase beginning on Black Friday (Nov. 29) in-store or online at www.kealopiko.com. Kealopiko will donate a percentage of the sales – with Hawaiian Airlines matching up to $10,000 – to Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo, a local nonprofit that works to advance community-based natural resource management in Hawai’i.

“The special part of this partnership is being able to honor the elements of Hawai’i [through the design] and also contribute to the continued work that is occurring within our communities for the well-being of our island home,” said Makasobe.

British Airways to Become First UK Airline to Offset Carbon Emissions on Flights

  • Airline announces plan to offset carbon emissions for all UK domestic flights from 2020
  • British Airways to invest in verified carbon reduction projects around the world
  • From 2020, British Airways’ carbon emissions on international flights will be capped through the United Nations’ carbon offsetting scheme
  • Announcement comes as parent company International Airlines Group (IAG) announces commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050

From January 2020, British Airways will become the first UK airline to offset carbon emissions on all its flights within the UK. 

All customers flying within the UK next year on flights operated by British Airways will have the carbon emissions from their flights offset by the airline and invested in carbon reduction projects around the world*. These quality assured projects will include renewable energy, protection of rainforests and reforestation programmes.  

The airline operates up to 75 flights a day between London and 10 UK cities, including Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Isle of Man, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Belfast City, Inverness and Jersey. British Airways’ domestic emissions total around 400,000 tonnes of C02 a year.

Today’s announcement comes as British Airways’ parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), became the first airline group worldwide to commit to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, contributing to both the UK Government’s commitment to a net zero carbon economy by 2050 and the United Nations’ objective to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. IAG’s emissions’ goal will be achieved through numerous environmental initiatives, including investing more than US$400m in the development of sustainable aviation fuels over the next 20 years.

Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and Chief Executive, said: “British Airways is determined to play its part in reducing aviation’s CO2 emissions. To solve such a multi-faceted issue requires a multi-faceted response and this initiative further demonstrates our commitment to a sustainable future. It also follows our announcement to partner with renewable fuels company, Velocys, to build a facility which converts household and commercial waste into renewable sustainable jet fuel to power our fleet.”

While customers on UK domestic flights will not need to offset their emissions, those travelling further afield can also reduce their impact on the environment by using British Airways’ carbon offsetting tool. The carbon tool enables customers to calculate their emissions and then invest in carbon reduction projects including high quality forestry and renewable energy projects in Peru, Sudan and Cambodia**.

Using the tool, which can be accessed on https://www.pureleapfrog.org/ba/carbon_zero, a customer will pay around £1 to offset a return flight from London to Madrid, travelling in economy, while from London to New York in business class will cost around £15.***

Notes to Editors

* British Airways is investing in Verified Carbon Standard projects.

**British Airways’ offset scheme is operated through the airline’s partnership with not-for-profit organisation Pure Leapfrog. For more information on the carbon reduction projects, visit: https://www.pureleapfrog.org/ba

***While customers travelling on domestic flights’ carbon emissions are offset for them, customers flying outside of the UK can choose to pay to offset their emissions. Examples of pricing are shown below:

JourneyCost to offset
London to Madrid (economy)£ 1
London to New York (economy)£ 5
London to New York (business)£ 15
London to Los Angeles (economy)£ 8
London to Los Angeles (business)£ 24
London to Hong Kong (business)£ 26

Customers can find a link to the carbon calculator at https://www.pureleapfrog.org/ba/carbon_zero

JetBlue to GreenUp® All Carbon Emissions In June

  • In Partnership with Carbonfund.org, JetBlue Will Help Protect a Portion of the Brazilian Rainforest and Support Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Offsets
  • Since 2008, JetBlue Has Offset More than 2.3 Billion Pounds of CO₂ to Help Introduce ‘Carbon Offsetting’ to Customers

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– To kick-off the busy summer travel season while keeping carbon offsetting top of mind, JetBlue (Nasdaq: JBLU) today announced it will offset the carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) for all JetBlue customers flying throughout the month of June. JetBlue is partnering with Carbonfund.org Foundation, an environmental non-profit organization, to offset CO2 for all scheduled JetBlue flights from June 1 to June 30, 2019.

Over the past 11 years, JetBlue has partnered with Carbonfund.org, allowing travelers to offset an estimation of the ‘carbon footprint’ from their flights by supporting a variety of carbon dioxide reduction projects. To date, JetBlue has purchased offsets totaling more than 2.3 billion pounds (1 million metric tons) of CO2 emissions. Since 2008, JetBlue’s carbon offsets have helped fund technology and forestry projects to help counterbalance the addition of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from flying.

“As an airline, we admit that we emit. Communally, the traveling public’s and airline’s first-line of defense is flying efficiently and avoiding unnecessary emissions,” said Sophia Mendelsohn, head of sustainability and environmental social governance, JetBlue. “Flying remains a backbone of our economy. JetBlue is inspiring our customers by purchasing offsets on their behalf for emissions that cannot be avoided. While we work toward renewable jet fuel options and ‘carbon-neutral’ flying, offsets are one small way we’re addressing emissions.”

Offsetting all scheduled customers’ flights throughout June will reduce JetBlue’s flying impact by an estimated 700,000 metric tons of CO2, according to Carbonfund.org. This reduction is accomplished by offsetting CO2 through the Envira Amazonia Tropical Rainforest Conservation Project, a carbon offset project approved by the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standard. These third party verifications demonstrate the project protects nearly 500,000 acres of Amazon tropical rainforest and, mitigates the release of more than 12.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the project lifetime, preserves the habitat for biodiversity and enhances the lives of rural forest communities.

JetBlue’s Carbon Offsetting Initiatives – JetBlue has a history of offsetting emissions. Since 2008, JetBlue has offset 2.3 billion pounds of CO₂ emissions. In April 2015, JetBlue offset a month of customers’ flight in celebration of Earth Month. In 2014, JetBlue worked with Carbonfund.org to offset the CO2 emissions for an entire year on all A321 flights between San Francisco and New York’s JFK Airport.

Beyond June, JetBlue is focused on emissions reduction and avoidance in the long-term. JetBlue recently released its annual environmental social governance (ESG) report detailing the airline’s long-term emissions and climate risk management strategy. The 2018 report is available here.