Recent years have seen the aviation industry move seriously to improve environmental performance, from developing less-polluting aircraft and researching electric/hybrid-electric, to introducing sustainable aviation fuels and more efficient air traffic management. But what about general aviation (GA)? How can private pilots continue to fly for fun, but do so responsibly? In the UK, the Leicestershire Aero Club (LAC) - located just to the southeast of the county's capital city - became the UK's first 'carbon-neutral' flying school through a partnership with General Aviation Carbon Offsetting (GACO). On its website, GACO reports that it aims "to give aviators the option to 'fly green' by offsetting the carbon dioxide emitted as a result of flying". An LAC statement said: "Our flying is a mixture of commercial and non-commercial training as well as recreational flying. We are aware that we have an impact on the environment and want to make some effort to reduce our carbon footprint."
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