Yes, you read that right an Airbus A380 took flight completely fueled by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a kind of biofuel that depends heavily on organic materials. The aviation industry is looking to this kind of fuel with the expectation that it would reduce the entire industry’s dependence on traditional fossil fuels and also result in reduced carbon emissions.
For the Airbus A380’s flight which took off from the Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, France (TLS), a total of 27 metric tons of unblended Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) was provided by energy company; Total Energies.
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According to Airbus the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) which was provided was made up of used Cooking Oil as well as other waste fats. The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) was also Sulfur and Aromatics free.
What this means in essence, is that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a significantly cleaner burning fuel. This is why it has become an integral part of the Aviation Industry’s long term targets to ensure lesser carbon emissions.
One of the Airbus A380’s four (4) Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines was powered completely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The A380’s flight is Airbus’ most recent move into 100 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The other two Airbus Aircrafts that have undergone 100 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) testing are an Airbus A350 and Airbus A319neo.
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All Airbus Aircrafts are now being certified to fly with a 50-50 combination of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and traditional Kerosene Fuel.
The multinational aerospace corporation; Airbus plans to certify 100 percent for its line of Aircrafts by the end of this decade.
It is believed that the Airbus A380 prototype will be modified into the company’s ZEROe Demonstrator which will have an extra hydrogen powered engine installed. The ZEROe Demonstrator program will be testing propulsion that has zero emission.
American multinational corporation; Boeing also has its sights on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). It has so far purchased 2 million gallons of the organic fuel intended to power its commercial aircraft operations in South Carolina and Washington state.
For a start the fuel will be a 30 percent – 70 percent blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Boeing believes it will be able to increase the share of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the blend to 59 percent and eventually 100 percent. Boeing like Airbus, is looking to certify its entire fleet for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) operations by 2030.
In 2021 United Airlines successfully executed a special 737 MAX 8 flight from Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) with one of its engine powered by 100 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This is so far one of the most ambitious and pioneering tests of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by any individual airline.
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