AIRWAYS INTERVIEW
of the bio-based feedstock that ’ s in farmlands in Pennsylvania and Ohio . So , big win for us , big win for them , and big win for the industry .
But we have two other pathways , that we also want to pursue , which would have different market characteristics and probably different demand generation . One is coal mine methane , which is interesting . It ’ s taking the methane out of the air that ’ s being vented from coal mines , abandoned coal mines , and turning that into sustainable aviation fuel through a Fischer-Tropsch process .
So , I think that there ’ s still some certification that has to be done around that , but we should be pursuing it . And then there ’ s the hydrothermal liquefaction , which I took a long time to understand , but it allows for the production of SAP from sludge and or oilseeds . So , what we care about and what I believe in is that we need to find practical , pragmatic solutions that can be replicated because , if it only works in Pittsburgh , that ’ s not good enough .
It needs to be throughout the system . So , we look at ourselves as an opportunity to provide space for research and development around energy innovation . We are working closely with the Scott Energy Institute at Carnegie Mellon University around this .
It turns out that there ’ s a lot of energy innovation in the history of Pittsburgh , because that ’ s how Andrew Carnegie stood up the steel industry . So , my feeling is that we ’ re really perfectly positioned to be one of the pathways to create these variety of options and then help others in the industry , and trade information with us in the industry about what might work in which market . I think we have a responsibility , as an industry , to earn our right to grow , and we can be part of that in Pittsburgh , and I ’ m very excited about what ’ s coming .
What piece of advice would you give to your eventual successor as CEO at Pittsburgh Airport ? The advice I would give to my successor is that innovation is a mindset and that it ’ s continual and you never stop . There are always opportunities if you have an innovation mindset and a culture of putting people first while holding them accountable . So keep going with that and you should be fine . That ’ s what I would say .
54 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2024 www . airwaysmag . com