Meet Mark Rumizen

GC

Let’s zoom out, how did you first get interested in aviation? Why did you decide to pursue it as a career? 

MR

From a young age, I always had an interest in machines that move. Everything from vehicles to boats and aircraft have always fascinated me, and today one of my prized possessions is a classic European sports car. Aviation specifically is a big part of our culture, and the industry is undergoing a big shift right now as airlines and travelers want a more environmentally friendly approach. 

GC

In your tenure at the FAA or as chair of the ASTM, were there any specific projects that stand out to you as particularly memorable or that had a significant impact on the industry at large?

MR

Without a doubt, the issuance of the original version of the ASTM drop-in fuel specification, D7566, in 2009 stands out as the singular most important contribution that opened the door for the use of sustainable jet fuels. I had the honor of overseeing this effort while at the FAA, and I’m proud that this initial success has now led to seven qualified alternative fuels. This one accomplishment mitigated a major aviation industry concern by linking airworthiness authority approval to the ASTM specification issuance. 

GC

Your advice, insight and experience is world-leading; you could have chosen any number of other opportunities, why join AIR COMPANY?

MR

Once I decided to merge my experience in the private sector with my time at the FAA, AIR COMPANY seemed like a natural fit. Having been in the industry for years, I was impressed by the company’s unique business approach and positive company culture. I knew that I wanted to be within the arena, not just making the rules of the game.  

GC

You’re intimately familiar with the values, needs and perspectives that make up the industry of stakeholders in aviation and fuel. You even invented many of the standards to do with alternate fuels and blending. How will that help us as a company as we move toward certification of our fuel?

MR

While the different stakeholders involved in the qualification process all have different perspectives, we all share a common goal. Engine and aircraft manufacturers speak a different language from jet fuel producers, chemists and biologists, but it’s critical to understand what each is saying and to “connect the dots” between the two groups. I’m excited to be able to bridge the gap between different groups and lead AIR COMPANY to our path of certification. 

GC

In your opinion, what is the biggest public misconception about SAF? 

MR

People often think that SAFs are different from jet fuel. While it’s true that AIR COMPANY and others are developing very innovative technologies to convert non-fossil sources of carbon into liquid fuels, the end product is identical to jet fuel produced from petroleum. The qualified SAF acts the same as the fuel we’ve been flying with for decades. 

GC

What is one thing you wish people knew about the global push to decarbonize aviation? 

MR

Because of the immensity of the aviation fuel supply infrastructure, it is effectively an impossible task to introduce a new type of fuel, or new type of energy carrier that requires new engines or technology. We consume approximately 25 billion gallons of jet fuel annually in the USA, and the entire supply chain, from the refineries to the airplanes, is designed to produce, handle, and move one type of fuel. Introduction of a fuel with a different composition, or other properties, would require new equipment and procedures all along the supply chain, creating hurdles for the industry. We need to focus on 100% drop-in solutions in the near-term, which are SAFs qualified to ASTM D7566, for the seamless decarbonization of aviation.