Sustainability
Jackson Hole Flight Services and the Airport operate under a use agreement with Grand Teton National Park. JAC is the only airport operating within a national park and environmental stewardship is a core value at Jackson Hole Flight Services.
Volunteer Noise Curfew
We request aircraft operators to follow our noise abatement procedures and adhere to the Voluntary Noise Curfew. These best practices are in place to minimize aircraft noise over sensitive wildlife and communities located near the Airport and inside Grand Teton National Park.
Please do not land or takeoff after 9:30 pm or before 7:00 am.
Carbon Offsetting
The Airport partners with the Good Traveler Program in an effort to give travelers the ability to purchase certified carbon offsets. All offset funds support local emissions-reducing projects.
Learn more by visiting JAC’s website or thegoodtraveler.org.
Waste Reduction
The Airport has an extensive waste reduction program and is committed to a county-wide 60% waste diversion goal by 2030. We’re requesting your help by separating your trash, recycling, compost items, and liquid waste upon arrival and when using our facilities. Recycle stations are conveniently located in all our facilities.
Fly Quiet Program
The Airport has a Fly Quiet Program. This program encourages pilots to utilize preferred approach and departure procedures and fly quieter aircraft in order to decrease aircraft noise inside the park. Top operators are highlighted in local and national publications quarterly.
VFR Noise Abatement Procedures
Learn more by visiting JAC’s website and viewing the Fly Quiet Help Guide.
Sustainability in Design
Sustainability and environmental stewardship are a top priority for the Jackson Hole Airport Board and these values help guide the Board with every project and operational need they consider. As the airport approaches the redesign of Airport buildings (including terminal, offices, and hangars), we see it as an opportunity to improve energy efficiency and reduce the airport’s carbon footprint. Currently, the Airport is redesigning Hangar 3 to be a high-performance building that will show dramatic improvements over the existing facility. Updated Jackson Hole Airport facilities will include components in their all-electric building systems design that signal a strong commitment to the Airport’s environmental and sustainability goals. Below is a description of sustainability improvements in the redesign of Hangar 3.
Hangar 3
The updated aircraft Hangar 3 at Jackson Hole Airport will be a simple, utilitarian structure that is well designed, durable, easy to maintain, and energy efficient. The building is anticipated to use between 30 and 35 percent less energy (and emit 30 and 35 percent less carbon) on a square foot basis than similar sized buildings of its type[1] – a significant improvement over the existing hangar it is replacing.
The hangar building will consist of insulated precast concrete panels for much of its structure. The high thermal mass of the enclosure and the concrete floor slab, in addition to the light-colored roof membrane, help maintain a comfortable internal temperature and reduce peak energy demand. Durable materials are used throughout the building to extend the building’s lifecycle, reduce maintenance, and reduce future resource use.
Similar to other FBO structures, the hangar building will be heated primarily utilizing an aquifer-exchange ground water source heat pump system in the concrete slab. Utilizing the thermal mass of the slab effectively reduces temperature swings inside the hangar. The aquifer exchange system also eliminates the need for natural gas service to the building, ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions at this facility.
Electric services have been designed with the flexibility to allow an increase in capacity in the future to charge electric aircraft, with minimum disruption to the facility. Excluding the apron light poles, all exterior lighting fixtures are Dark Sky compliant and have no light leaving the fixtures above 90 degrees, reducing light pollution into surrounding areas. Staff knows this is important for both the local community and Grand Teton National Park.
[1] 2003 Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) database EUI benchmark for building type was used to provide estimate.
How the Airport manages sustainability is a measure of how well it operates. Whether improving energy efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint or strengthening community relationships – integration of sustainability leads to a more efficient, successful airport. By integrating sustainability into facility design, the Jackson Hole Airport is focused on prioritizing environmental stewardship to support our users and community.