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Gulfstream successfully flew the world's first trans-Atlantic flight using 100 percent SAF on Nov. 19, flying a Gulfstream G600 aircraft from the company headquarters in Savannah and landing six hours and 56 minutes later at the Farnborough Airport in England.
"Gulfstream is innovating for a sustainable future," Gulfstream President Mark Burns said. "One of the keys to reaching business aviation's long-term decarbonization goals is the broad use of SAF in place of fossil-based jet fuel. The completion of this world-class flight helps to advance business aviation's overarching sustainability mission and create positive environmental impacts for future generations."Pratt andamp; Whitney PW815GA engine
Gulfstream announced the big accomplishment on Monday, along with engine provider Pratt andamp; Whitney. The G600 was equipped with Pratt andamp; Whitney PW815GA engines, both using 100 percent SAF. This major milestone shows the potential of the future use of renewable fuels in aviation, working toward the common goal of reducing the industry's carbon footprint. Renewable fuels feature lower carbon, sulfur and aromatics and the data collected from this flight will helf Gulfstream and its suppliers measure aircraft compatibility with the future use of low-aromatic renewable fuels, particularly under cold temperatures on extended flight durations.
"Collaborating with airframe manufacturers such as Gulfstream is an important part of our long-standing efforts to ensure SAF compatibility across all our engines, which have already been certified to operate with up to 50% SAF blends for more than a decade," said Anthony Rossi, Pratt andamp; Whitney Canada VP of sales and marketing. "With this transatlantic flight, we are effectively demonstrating both engine and aircraft functionality in a fully operational setting to support future specifications for 100% SAF, which will be critical to achieving a more sustainable future of net-zero CO2 emissions for aviation in the decades ahead. Future 100% SAF operational approval will add to the versatility, reliability, and fuel efficiency of the PW815GA engine to benefit Gulfstream and our customers."
The SAF used on the flight was produced by World Energy and delivered by World Fuel Services, comprised of 100 percent Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (neat HEFA), which has at least 70 percent lower lifecycles emissions than the traditional fossil-based jet fuel. The use of this fuel helps to reduce aviation's environmental impact. The zero added aromatics fuel has a reduced impact on local air quality and additionally has a low sulfur content, reducing the non-CO2 environmental impacts.
"Gulfstream continues to break new ground in the sustainable aviation space, and we applaud them for completing this mission as we work to validate the compatibility of our engines with unblended SAF," Rossi said.
The flight was also made possibly by Honeywell, Safran and Eaton. Gulfstream became the first business jet original equipment manufacturer to fly using 100 percent SAF, advancing the company's continued effort to lead the industry in sustainability.
"We'd like to thank all our partners for their help in making this milestone flight happen, and for their ongoing partnership in collaborating with the extended SAF community to champion the aviation industry's path to 100% SAF usage," Burns said.