Solar Energy News
AEROSPACE
What carbon footprint? American man flies 23 million miles
What carbon footprint? American man flies 23 million miles
By Ana FERN�NDEZ
New York (AFP) July 10, 2023

Tom Stuker has flown some 23 million miles in three decades, the same as 48 round trips to the moon, but the American says he is not concerned by his carbon footprint.

Stuker, dubbed the world's most traveled air passenger, estimates he has spent the equivalent of three of his 69 years on planes and in airports.

The businessman from New Jersey travels an average of 994,000 miles (1.6 million kilometers) a year, although in 2019 he clocked up 1.5 million miles.

"I'll never do that again," he told AFP, admitting that even for him it was too much.

Stuker owes his travel to a lifetime pass he bought from United Airlines for $290,000 in 1990.

"It was strictly a business decision," Stuker recalls.

At the time, his auto industry consulting business was expanding, particularly in Australia, and he wanted to save money on travel.

He later took up the option of a companion pass, bringing his total spent to $510,000, for which he took out a loan.

"It took about a half hour to explain everything to my banker, and he tried to talk me out of it several times," Stuker remembers.

Then he was scared of flying, but not anymore.

The pass has likely saved him millions of dollars but United appear happy with his business -- they've put his name on three of their planes.

Stuker has flown an average of 22,000 miles a week since acquiring his pass and visits Australia about 20 times a year.

He has been featured in several US publications and has endured some abuse on social media, with users accusing him of contributing to global warming.

"Recently a person posted a comment saying he hopes that myself and my entire family die from my carbon footprint," Stuker says.

- 100 million miles -

The airline industry contributes up to three percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, but experts say its impact on warming temperatures is worsened by its emission of other gases and condensation trails.

Scientists say that the industry's contribution to further warming can be halted with a 2.5 percent annual decrease in traffic using current fuels or a transition to a 90 percent carbon-neutral fuel mix by 2050, an industry target.

"The problem isn't the passengers," insists Stuker.

"The only way to solve the problem is with the airline industry itself, which is spending millions of dollars to reduce its overall emissions."

Stuker has accumulated more than 100 million frequent flyer miles that he has been able to use on luxury hotels and restaurants, as well as generous gift cards for family and friends.

And his favorite thing about flying? The food.

"Actually I got to start cutting down on all that food. During the pandemic, I lost 65 pounds," he says.

Stuker says he has only ever missed one flight in his life and that was because he fell asleep in the airport lounge.

So what is his top tip to ensure the smoothest possible travel?

Catch the first flight of the day because it is usually cheaper, less busy, and not impacted by delays.

"Get your butt out of bed early!" Stuker says.

Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AEROSPACE
Czech Republic to provide helicopters, F-16 training to Ukraine
Washington DC (UPI) Jul 7, 2023
The Czech Republic will transfer helicopters and participate in a program to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced Friday. "The Czech Republic is one of the largest suppliers of military assistance to Ukraine. The war has lasted almost 500 days. We have sent 676 pieces of heavy equipment and over 4 million pieces of medium- and large-caliber ammunition to Ukraine," Fiala said in a statement posted to Twitter after a joint press conference with Uk ... read more

AEROSPACE
University of Illinois study finds turning food waste into bioenergy can become a profitable industry

New technology will let farmers produce their own fertilizer and e-fuels

Clean, sustainable fuels made 'from thin air' and plastic waste

In Iowa, Asa Hutchinson touts measured approach to green energy transition

AEROSPACE
ChatGPT dragged to US court over AI copyright

Magnetic robots walk, crawl, and swim

Pump powers soft robots, makes cocktails

AI robots at UN reckon they could run the world better

AEROSPACE
New transmission line to carry wind energy electricity from Wyoming to Nevada

Brazil faces dilemma: endangered macaw vs. wind farm

Spire to provide TrueOcean with weather forecasts for offshore wind farm development

Sweden greenlights two offshore windpower farms

AEROSPACE
Legal battle looms over London's expanding vehicle pollution fee

FAA clears California company's flying car for takeoff

Vehicle color recognition based on neural networks and multi-scale feature fusion

Strange bedfellows: auto rivals embrace Tesla EV chargers

AEROSPACE
Next-generation flow battery design sets records

A bright future in eco-friendly light devices, just add dendrimers, cellulose, and graphene

Scientists developing way to make cheaper Lithium batteries

China, Russia pledge $1.4 bn for lithium plants in Bolivia

AEROSPACE
IAEA requests more access to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in hunt for explosives

Fukushima water release plan clears last regulatory hurdle in Japan

Ukraine nuke plant safety fears in spotlight

U.N. watchdog: No evidence of explosives at Ukraine nuclear plant

AEROSPACE
'Not there yet': COP host UAE vows to cut more emissions

International Maritime Organization nations agree to 2050 net zero emissions goal

U.N. finds developing countries need major financial commitment for cleaner energy

EU eyes withdrawal from fossil-friendly energy treaty

AEROSPACE
Amazon deforestation down sharply under Brazil's Lula: govt

Turning over a new leaf, Colombian ranchers plant trees

Kenya's Ruto lifts six-year logging ban

Nestle steps up reforestation project in Ivory Coast

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.