The catalyst would vaporize within seconds after the engine is lit.

regulations, laws autonomously created by a runaway
executive branch, are killing this golden goose. -- j
.

So much for the "friendly skies"...

This is just another government takeover of private industry they are trying to just sweep under the rug. First, they try to dissuade people from travelling through the absolutely worthless TSA (a 97% FAIL rate in detecting _real_ weapons). Knowing that isn't working, they now try to restrict flying altogether.

Of course the EPA never bothers to invest in studies to see if the levels they want to apply are feasible or reasonably affordable. If the cost of air travel goes up, the number of passengers will go down. Of course liberals don't understand economics, or they wouldn't be generating regulations that harm the industry.

Boeing and Airbus have made huge investments in efficiency, driving the engine technology. Both companies are in the process of adding electric motors to the landing gear to reduce the need to run the engines at high levels (70% throttle) while taxiing. Both companies have studied hybrid, hydrogen, and electric aircraft designs, and realized the technology to make these designs workable is a long way off. All of this is market driven, so more regulation isn't needed.

The continuing cost of maintaining a partially free society is reaching a tipping point. Soon, the majority of those employed will be working for the government and the so will the general citizenry when the taxes and regulations cost more than the income of the diminishing middle class.

Strapping on a catalytic converter won't decrease carbon dioxide emissions. Actually it would increase them by completing oxidation of the unburned hydrocarbons.

The headline can be classified under the heading of "No Surprise There". I read somewhere a few months ago that they also have regulations for backyard barbecues.
This crap all comes from Obama. He's the head of the Executive Branch, and all he has to do is put an activist environmental lawyer in charge of the agency and tell him to write as many regulations as possible. Anywhere that somebody is burning a carbon-based compound, carbon dioxide is being emitted, and they can use the universal excuse of "Global Warming" to justify more regulations.

Have the President keep his mouth shut and emissions would be much reduced.

Replace Air Force One (and Two and Three) with blimps. Blimps are a whole lot greener than jets.

I'm thinking its better if they 'champion' this one themselves... modify the Dear Leader's plane and when the crap works well and adds to the bottom line instead of detracting from it, then we can look at retrofitting 100s of thousands of planes over a period of decades.

LOL... "Ride the Dog"..

...and solar panels atop the wings.

Absolutely correct on that.

Government / Air Force jets tend to be 25-50 years old.

I was thinking the same thing... maybe take Air Force One away and we'll cut emissions in the US by half...

They want to put a catalytic converter on a jet liner?

EPA only needs to get out of the way and acknowledge the inherent beauty of capitalism which, in the interests of profit, offers the newest, most fully featured and most fuel-efficient aircraft, without "help" from the EPA.
There's little money to be made flying passengers in old, worn-out, fuel guzzling aircraft - which is why socialist nations and fly-by-night cargo companies typically operate them.

I will always have an emission ready for the Jetsetter-In-Chief and the control freaks of the EPA.

SaltyDog, don't be silly! We both know that there are rules for US, and rules for THEM.

Regulated aircraft emissions (with the exception of Our Dear Leader's fleet of course) falls into the former category.

Actually, on top of that rant, when I read the skimpy article, it occurred to me that the idiots in charge might well tell the airlines to strap on a catalytic converter on each engine, and actually think it would be done. An Ayn Rand moment if ever there was one....

You sir, are a very observant, nay, bordering on genius! My thoughts exactly, well said. That is exactly one of the major problems we saw in AS, and now reflected in our current crop of Elite Idiots. Do as I say, not as I do, and pay for all my stupid ideas and wants. Let me charge you for all my pseudo science babble talk and special interests, since I make the rules. Impeach me? Try it. I will lie cheat and buy my way around you oh so silly democracy.... I get tired of all the politicians arrogant crap..I am beginning to think this isn't something that has just come about in the last few hundred years but has been a fatal human character flaw for millennia. Thank you for you comment. Got me all stirred up now....

Perhaps the administration could lead the way with a bold gesture...no more jet travel for elected officials for domestic travel! Going to a fundraiser in Chicago Mr. Obama? All aboard for Amtrak? Headed home for a long weekend Mrs. Pelosi? Ride the dog! Greyhound, I believe, still has service! Just think of the reduction of carbon emissions and taxpayer savings!

What's that? No, you don't want to bite the bullet with the rest of us? Then STFU!

It occurs to me that the reason politicians fight so hard to get re-elected is that they don't want to have to earn a living under the laws that they've passed.