AIRBUS

Company makes helicopter flight engines running on 100% sustainable aviation fuel

Airbus has become the first aircraft manufacturer to fly a helicopter with both engines running on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), typically derived from biomaterials, including used grease, vegetable oil and other degradable waste. The H225 helicopter used Safran Makila 2 engines.

The recent flight is in line with Airbus' policy to achieve certification of commercial planes and helicopters powered by sustainable green fuels by 2030 and is gearing up to achieve a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions without compromising the quality of flights.

In November, the company was already testing a similar helicopter, but at that time only one engine was working in the SAF. In addition, in March 2022, it tested the A380 Jumbo Jet plane, whose engine also ran on ecological fuel. The main objective is not only to prove the ability of engines to use this fuel without design modifications, but also to evaluate the performance of all systems when using SAF. In the future, several tests are planned on different types of helicopters with different fuel options and engine configurations.

“Sustainable jet fuel is produced by processing food waste and other raw materials, from used food fats to carbon dioxide captured from the air and agricultural raw materials. One of the advantages of SAF is that these fuels are almost identical to those obtained from fossil fuels. Today, no more than 50% SAF can be used blended with conventional jet fuel without engine modifications, which is very effective in reducing carbon emissions over the life cycle of aircraft. But Airbus wants to do more.

Airbus said the use of two engines at the same time in the SAF is a milestone for the helicopter industry. Firstly, this will be another step on Airbus' path towards certification for the use of eco-fuels exclusively, and secondly, it will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90%.

Image source: Airbus