Proposed federal legislation (H.R. 2454) intended to reduce CO2 emissions could seriously harm the business aviation industry, believes Bill de Decker, cofounder and president of the aviation-consulting firm Conklin & de Decker. According to his calculations, business aviation's emissions are expected to be 15 million tons in 2012, but the allowable limit will be 11 million; in 2020, they are expected to be 19.5 million tons versus 9.1 million allowable; in 2030, 23.6 million tons versus 6.6 million; and in 2050, 33.3 million tons versus 1.9 million.

"To meet the 2050 target will require an improvement in efficiency for the fleet of 8 percent for each year of the next 40 years, if we keep on using jet-A," de Decker said. "That is three to four times the average annual improvement in efficiency we have actually experienced between 1965 and today."