Gulfstream continued its pioneering use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), accomplishing the first transatlantic flight powered by 100 percent SAF yesterday. The milestone was accomplished with a G600 burning unblended SAF in both Pratt & Whitney PW615GA engines on a flight from the airframer’s Savannah, Georgia headquarters to London-area Farnborough Airport. Total flight time was six hours 56 minutes.
“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,” said Anthony Rossi, Pratt & Whitney Canada’s v-p of sales and marketing.
The fuel was produced by World Energy and delivered by World Fuel Services. It consisted of 100 percent hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids, and the SAF provided at least a 70 percent lifecycle CO2 emissions reduction compared to the same use of conventional, petroleum-derived jet fuel.
SAF is currently approved at blends of up to 50 percent due to most legacy engines’ need for the aromatic compounds in jet-A that expand their seals, forming tight seals. One of the major considerations regarding the use of 100 percent SAF is the lack of aromatic compounds. Gulfstream, along with its partners and suppliers, will use the data collected during this flight to gauge aircraft compatibility with future low-aromatic renewable fuels, particularly under cold conditions in long-duration flights.
“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,” noted Gulfstream president Mark Burns, whose company has been using SAF since 2016. “The completion of this world-class flight helps to advance business aviation’s overarching sustainability mission and create positive environmental impacts for future generations.”
