Emirates operates take a look at flight powered by sustainable aviation gas

Emirates has operated its first take a look at flight on a Boeing 777-300ER, powering considered one of its engines with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

It took off from Dubai International Airport and was commanded by Captain Fali Vajifdar and Captain Khalid Nasser Akram, flying for a couple of hour over the Dubai shoreline. 

Speaking to Dubai Eye 103.8’s Business Breakfast, Zeina Chakhtoura, Senior Customer Service Manager for GE Aviation, explains how sustainable gas is completely different from standard gas.

Emirates labored alongside companions GE Aerospace, Boeing, Honeywell, Neste and Virent to obtain and develop a mix of SAF that carefully replicates the properties of standard jet gas. 

Eighteen tonnes of SAF had been blended, comprised of HEFA-SPK supplied by Neste (hydro processed esters and fatty acids and artificial paraffinic kerosene) and HDO-SAK from Virent (hydro deoxygenated artificial fragrant kerosene). The 100% SAF provided one GE90 engine, with standard jet gas supplying the opposite engine.

She defined that whereas provide is at the moment low, extra consciousness in jet gas options may help drive demand within the aviation trade.

The flight, the primary within the Middle East and North Africa, helps broader efforts to cut back lifecycle CO2 emissions because the trade seems to be to scale up its use of SAF.

Currently, SAF is accredited to be used in all plane, however solely in blends of as much as 50 per cent with standard jet gas.

It additionally helps collective trade efforts to assist advance the UAE’s sustainability targets.

Adel Al Redha, Chief Operating Officer, Emirates Airline, spoke to Dubai Eye 103.8’s Business Breakfast about what must be completed to make the usage of SAF extra widespread.

The airline already runs a complete gas effectivity programme that actively investigates and implements methods to cut back pointless gas burn and emissions, wherever it’s operationally possible. Some of the programme’s most vital initiatives embrace the operation of “flex tracks”, or versatile routings – partnering with air navigation service suppliers to create essentially the most environment friendly flight plan for every flight.

These efforts have been ongoing since 2003, and Emirates has been working with IATA to increase this routing system the world over as a normal working process the place attainable.  

Emirates’ first flight powered by SAF blended with jet gas was in 2017, working from Chicago O’Hare airport on a Boeing 777.

It acquired its first SAF-powered A380 supply in 2020, and likewise uplifted 32 tonnes of SAF for its flights from Stockholm that very same 12 months.