RAF defends UK’s skies using sustainable aviation fuel

The Royal Air Force is ensuring Britain is secure in a more sustainable manner using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with normal jet fuel on routine operations for the first time. Aircraft including Typhoon and Poseidon submarine hunters, operating from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, have been using a blend of conventional and SAF in a first for the air force as they take to the skies to defend the UK and allies. During November 2023 to February 2024 four million litres of blended sustainable aviation fuel were delivered…

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New Challenge Backed by Salesforce and Industry Leaders Aims to Accelerate Sustainable Aviation

Salesforce, Airbus, Breakthrough Energy, Boom Supersonic, Deloitte, Eni, JetBlue Ventures, Qantas Airways Limited, and World Energy launched a call for ecopreneurs to submit innovative solutions to support the decarbonization of the aviation sector. This initiative is a collaboration between the First Movers Coalition (FMC) and UpLink to scale and commercialize innovations in sustainable aviation.   Why it’s important: While air travel plays a vital role in connecting people and driving the global economy, the aviation industry contributes to roughly 2% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.  Driving the news: The Sustainable…

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Airbus A330 MRTT performs landmark air-to-air sustainable aviation refuelling mission

One-hundred years since the first ever air-to-air refuelling of an aircraft, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) has carried out a landmark in-flight refuelling exercise with blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using an Airbus Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) Voyager aircraft. On a crisp Spring morning in the Oxfordshire countryside, the RAF’s VIP Voyager – emblazoned with Union Flag tail and gold-lettered ‘United Kingdom’ livery – taxied on to the Brize Norton runway filled with 43% SAF. On board were UK Business and Trade Minister Nusrat Ghani MP, members of…

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The UK’s Airborne Laboratory flies with sustainable aviation fuel

The FAAM Airborne Laboratory, which is owned by NERC, has used a blend of sustainable aviation fuel for the first time this week. FAAM, which operates a specially adapted BAE-146 aircraft fitted with scientific instruments, used the new fuel on a routine crew training flight in the south of England. Sustainable aviation fuel has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in aviation by up to 80%, compared to jet fuel sourced from crude oil. It is made from 100% renewable waste, bio-oils and residual raw materials, like recovered cooking…

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Airbus’ most popular aircraft takes to the skies with 100% sustainable aviation fuel

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a key element for the future reduction of air transportation’s carbon footprint, and Airbus is continuing its testing of this bio-jet fuel with a new VOLCAN flight test campaign using the best-selling A320 Family aircraft. An A321neo took off recently from Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse, France with both of its engines powered by 100% unblended SAF. Since the end of February, the aircraft is being closely followed by a data-collecting aeroplane with the mission to gather information on the non-CO2 emissions and the creation of…

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