According to the company, United will take delivery of up to 1 million gallons of Neste MY SAFE in 2024 with the first load arriving in August.

• READ MORE: Signature Aviation Pumping Blended SAF at LAX Terminal

SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel designed to be more environmentally friendly than fossil fuel. Created from renewable resources, such as reclaimed cooking oil and feed stocks, it can reduce carbon emissions by up to 85 percent on a lifecycle basis, according to Neste. SAF can be used in unmodified aircraft engines and fuel delivery systems

United is a chief advocate for legislation to grow the SAF market. The airline has been instrumental in helping secure SAF tax credits in Illinois, as well as Washington, Colorado, and California that encourage airports to purchase SAF.

• READ MORE: Boeing Ready to Buy 7.5 Million Gallons of SAF

United is one of the founders of the SAF Coalition, which is described as a consortium of more than 40 airlines, aircraft operators, agricultural enterprises, aircraft and aircraft equipment manufacturers, airports, technology developers, labor unions, and biofuel producers. Its mission is to expand the use of SAF and reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.

In addition to Chicago, the airline has now purchased SAF for airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, and Amsterdam.

“I’m pleased to see United Airlines making this significant move forward by using sustainable aviation fuel daily in flights from O’Hare,” U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said in a statement. “One of the most important things we can do to make American aviation more sustainable is increase the supply of SAF. At the federal level, I’ve been pushing for the increased use of SAF, and I’m going to keep pushing to increase the supply of American-grown, American-made SAF, a true win-win solution that supports domestic farmers and blenders while reducing our nation’s carbon footprint.”

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker echoed the enthusiasm, noting that KORD is one of the busiest hub airports in the United States.

“Illinois’ position as a hub of innovation with some of the most connected airports in the country perfectly aligns with the work of companies like United to build a more sustainable future for travel and reach our shared goal of zero emissions,” Pritzker said.

United Airlines president Brett Hart said tax incentives in Illinois made SAF availability at the airport possible.

“While the market for SAF is still in its infancy, there is a huge opportunity today for airlines and policymakers to work together to support its continued growth,” Hart said.

SAF purchased for United’s fleet is paid for in part through the company’s Eco-Skies Alliance, which allows participating companies to share the “green premium,” or the cost associated with purchasing lower-emission fuels. Since 2021, the alliance has collectively contributed toward the purchase of more than 10.5 million gallons of SAF, according to the company.

The post United Turns to SAF at Chicago O’Hare appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The purchase marks Boeing’s largest annual SAF purchase to date, 60 percent more than in 2023, Neste said.

“Sustainable aviation fuel is essential to decarbonize aviation,” Ryan Faucett, vice president of environmental sustainability at Boeing, said in a statement. “About 20 percent of our fuel usage is a SAF blend, and we continue to increase our use of this fuel to encourage growth in the SAF industry. We are also working to make SAF more available and affordable to our commercial airline customers through collaboration, investment, research, and policy development.”

• READ MORE: Business Aviation Industry Groups Aim to Speed Adoption of SAF

SAF is a renewable aviation fuel consisting of 30 percent renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as fats, oils, and greases used in cooking, which is blended with 70 percent conventional jet fuel. 

According to Neste, the use of SAF reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent over the fuel’s life cycle, compared to using conventional jet fuel.

The total volume of blended SAF purchased will be supplied to Boeing’s commercial operations directly or through a book-and-claim system, according to the company. Four million gallons of blended SAF are destined for Boeing fuel farms in the Pacific Northwest. EPIC Fuels, a Signature Aviation company, will supply 2.5 million gallons and Avfuel will provide 1.5 million gallons of blended SAF from Neste. 

This latest order will be used to support the Boeing ecoDemonstrator program and Boeing’s U.S. commercial operational flights through 2024.

Boeing will also purchase SAF certificates corresponding to the emission reduction provided by the use of 3.5 million gallons of Neste-produced blended SAF produced through a book-and-claim system.

• READ MORE: Jet Aviation Signs Deal with World Fuel Services to Sell SAF at 2 More FBOs

Book and Claim 

Book and claim is an accounting process in which a company purchases SAF certificates to displace conventional jet fuel. Instead of putting the fuel into a Boeing fuel farm, distributors will deliver it to nearby airports for use by airlines and other carriers, ensuring the corresponding SAF use and related greenhouse gas emission reductions.

“Sustainable aviation fuel is a key lever to reduce aviation emissions,” said Carrie Song, senior vice president of commercial renewable products at Neste. “Working together with aviation sector leaders like Boeing is crucial in accelerating SAF usage and production.”

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Neste has commissioned storage capacity at Vopak’s Los Angeles terminal for Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, and Neste MY Renewable Diesel. The company said the fuel-storage arrangement marks a significant step toward making Neste’s renewable fuels more readily available in the Southern California region.

• READ MORE: ICAO Marks First Certification of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Under CORSIA Standard

The Vopak terminal’s location in the vast Port of Los Angeles will aid Neste strategically in connecting with fuel logistics via vessels, barges, trucks, and pipelines. The location also will help boost the flow of Neste’s renewable fuels to customers at area hubs like airlines requiring SAF at Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX) and critical hubs in the LA Angeles area, such as SAF for airlines at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and renewable diesel for road vehicles.

• READ MORE: Neste Delivers More than 500,000 Gallons of SAF to LAX

“Neste is fully committed to supporting the energy transition in the U.S. as well as globally by working closely together with partners to increase the availability of our renewable fuels,” said Annika Tibbe, acting president for Neste U.S. “Our cooperation with Vopak shows how repurposing existing fuel distribution infrastructure can accelerate the much-needed transition to renewable energy. California has been at the forefront of adopting and endorsing climate-friendly policies and solutions. We are glad to enable more cities, businesses, and individual travelers in the state to take advantage of Neste’s renewable solutions to reduce their emissions and help fight against climate change.”

• READ MORE: Neste to Provide DHL with 105 Million Gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Said Maria Ciliberti, Vopak president United States and Canada: “We are proud to serve Neste. Repurposing Vopak’s assets from oil and traditional fossil fuel products to low-carbon energy solutions is right on target with our strategy. We are happy that our services and infrastructure have been selected and are committed to being a part of the Los Angeles energy transition.”

The post Neste Makes Deal to Boost SAF Availability in Southern California appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The occasion marks a milestone for SAF production and for wider climate action within the aviation industry.

Three companies, Neste in the Netherlands, World Energy in the United States and Ecochem in China, produced nine batches of SAF representing about 1,700 tons of CO2 emissions reduction. The SAF was certified under the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) and International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) standards, ICAO said.

“The successful certification of these sustainable aviation fuels ensures that they present real environmental benefits on a life cycle basis, and it also confirms the performance of the certification process itself,” said ICAO council president Salvatore Sciacchitano. “This milestone shows that CORSIA global framework for sustainability assessment is robust and ready to support the achievement of ICAO’s goals on climate change.”

• READ MORE: Boeing Unveils Sustainability Tool to Boost Industry Net-Zero Goals

The fuels produced under CORSIA were made from waste materials and resulted in CO2 emissions 75 percent to 84 percent lower than those associated with conventional aviation fuels, according to ICAO.

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How ironic that the Gulfstream G800 one pair handcuffed themselves to had indeed flown across the Atlantic from Savannah, Georgia, on a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a regular part of its flight testing—not as a publicity stunt?

In fact, it’s easier to count those OEMs that haven’t implemented SAF and other short- and mid-term measures than those who have—because it’s a straightforward, here-and-now step most are happy to take. Many OEMs, from Embraer to Textron Aviation, fueled at their headquarters with SAF for the journey, and topped off with more on arrival. SAF is for the moment normally blended with regular jet-A, with testing toward blends up to 100 percent SAF in various stages depending on the airframe and powerplant manufacturers.

Getting to a 100-percent blend aside, SAF is not without its challenges—particularly in its boutique pricing and distribution to FBOs and other airport service providers that can deliver it to those operators wishing to use it.

A Case Study

At EBACE this week, Daher presented its experiences in covering that “last mile” between the delivery of SAF and distribution to its fleet. The company began the project to use SAF at its Aircraft Division facilities in Tarbes, France, in its operations, which include production, testing, training, and ferrying/delivery flights. Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of the division, related that, though the company is eager to set an example, availability of the fuel has been sporadic. 

“Therefore,” said Chabbert, “we took the initiative of going a step further by joining with the Spanish airline Volotea—a carrier that connects small and mid-sized cities in Europe which flies from Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport (LFBT) as part of its route network—to convince the fuel provider World Fuel Services to supply SAF on the platform. We expect our example will bring other operators to use renewable energy on (their) airplanes.”

The SAF in question is a blend with 30 percent of Neste MY SAF delivered to the airport by World Fuel Services, provider of jet fuel and other FBO/airport solutions in France, Germany, South Africa, Canada, and Australia. Neste’s MY SAF is produced from sustainably sourced renewable waste and residue raw materials and, in its pure form, is calculated to reduce emissions by up to 30 percent over the fuel’s life cycle.

“With Daher’s adoption of SAF for its needs at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport, all users at this facility can now benefit from our supply of Neste-blended jet-A fuel,” said James Hardacre, World Fuel Services’ vice president of sales for business aviation in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. 

This collaboration with commercial aviation at an airport made the sourcing and reliable delivery possible—but other business aviation operators in both Europe and North America have not been as successful in connecting the dots. It looks simple on paper, but it takes persistence and commitment to bring the fuel to the pump.

The post The ‘Last Mile’ for SAF Presents an Achievable Challenge appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The commitment to SAF use is part of Dassault’s plan to reduce its carbon footprint. Under the program the company is fueling all of its aircraft with SAF blends whether they are conducting business, transport, or support flights.

• READ MORE: Dassault Aviation Reports Record Aircraft Orders, Increased Net Income for 2022

SAF, when used in its concentrated form, can cut carbon emissions by 80 to 90 percent compared with conventional jet fuel, Dassault said. All of the company’s Falcon models are certified to use blends of up to 50 percent SAF.

Dassault said its new Falcon 10X, an ultralong-range jet, will be able to use a 100 percent SAF blend when it enters service.

Dassault’s Little Rock plant receives SAF from producer Neste and supplier Avfuel Corp.

• READ MORE: Dassault Falcon 10X and 6X Bizjets Nearing Service Launch

The post Dassault Aviation Rolls Out SAF Program At Little Rock Plant appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The fuel was supplied by Neste, Safran Helicopter Engines developed the Arrius 2R engine, and GKN Aerospace supplied the components and testing needed for the SAF testing.

“Neste is working closely together with forerunners in the aviation industry on verifying that aircraft can run safely on 100 percent SAF. This successful collaboration demonstrates that we are one step closer to enabling the entire aviation industry to take full advantage of 100 percent SAF,” said Jonathan Wood, vice president global commercial and technical, renewable aviation at Neste, in a statement. 

• Read More: Neste Delivers More Than 500,000 Gallons of SAF to LAX

This flight makes the 505 the first single-engine helicopter to fly using 100 percent SAF. 

“This flight is a monumental achievement for sustainability and decarbonization in the rotorcraft industry,” Michael Thacker, executive vice president of commercial business of Bell said in a release. “Showcasing a single engine aircraft’s flight capabilities with 100 percent SAF signals Bell’s commitment to alternative fuel usage and builds on its sustainability practices in its flight operations.”

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The company revealed these and other plans during its annual Airbus Summit taking place today and tomorrow in Toulouse, France.

Airbus said it will begin ground and flight testing its fuel cell engine on the A380 demonstrator aircraft known as ZEROe “towards the middle of the decade.” The company said the aircraft is being modified so it can carry liquid hydrogen fuel tanks.

• READ MORE: Neste Delivers More than 500,000 Gallons of SAF to LAX

“Fuel cells are a potential solution to help us achieve our zero-emission ambition and we are focused on developing and testing this technology to understand if it is feasible and viable  for a 2035 entry-into-service of a zero-emission aircraft,” said Glenn Llewellyn, vice president of zero-emission aircraft for Airbus.

Airbus said that with continued development, fuel cell engines could potentially power a 100-passenger aircraft with a range of 1,000 nm. Its current testing will offer options for the design of a future ZEROe aircraft, which Airbus said it plans to launch “in the 2027-2028 timeframe.”

Airbus also said it entered an agreement with Neste aimed at advancing the production and adoption of SAF across the aviation market. The companies said they “share a vision that SAF is a key solution to helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions of air travel. This collaboration aims to accelerate the aviation sector’s transition to SAF.”

Neste and Airbus said the new agreement will allow them to work together to more easily drive production and use of SAF while pursuing business opportunities and new fuel technology. Airbus and Neste said one of their main goals is “investigating how ‘100 percent SAF’ use can be enabled.”

Airbus said all of its aircraft are currently certified to fly with a blend of up to 50 percent SAF. It expects the partnership with Neste to be “instrumental to reaching certification for up to 100 percent SAF before the end of the decade.” 

Other activities at the Summit included unveiling Airbus’ DisruptiveLab, a new airborne lab within a helicopter that tests technology for cutting the CO2 emissions of helicopters. The company said the lab will “evaluate a new aerodynamic architecture intended to reduce fuel consumption, as well as pursuing the implementation of hybridization with a fully parallel hybrid propulsion system that enables the battery to be recharged in-flight.”

Airbus said the helicopter demonstrator will begin flying by the end of this year.

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Neste said it worked closely with LAXFUEL to make the transfer possible. LAXFUEL is a group of airlines at KLAX that provide the jet fuel supply infrastructure for planes at the airport. The company said that this marked the first time SAF was delivered into LAXFUEL using barges.

“We now have the means to supply this low-emission fuel in larger volumes not only to the airlines flying from LAX but also to other airports in the region serviced by the broader fuel infrastructure managed by LAXFUEL in California,” said John Trozzo, chairman of LAXFUEL Corporation. Trozzo called SAF the “the fastest, most effective means” to reduce carbon emissions.

• READ MORE: JetNet CEO Greg Fell Issues a Call to Arms on Sustainability

“This partnership with Neste proves that we have the capability to immediately implement this fuel as a low-carbon solution. It also provides a sound basis for scaling up future deliveries to airlines,” Trozzo added.

Neste said in its statement that while smaller deliveries of SAF have been made in the past to the airport, one of the biggest challenges is making it available in large volumes.

• READ MORE: SAF Refiner Neste Delivers Fuel to LaGuardia Airport

“This partnership marks the first time that SAF is being delivered as a ready made fuel blend into the existing fueling infrastructure in large volumes at LAX,” Neste said.

Meanwhile, the President of Neste US, Chris Cooper, said this recent partnership with LAXFUEL was a “concrete step” towards improving the industry’s sustainability efforts.

“Neste is fully committed to supporting the decarbonization of aviation. Our company has been at the forefront of accelerating the availability of SAF, and this achievement, together with LAXFUEL, shows how we are taking concrete steps towards a more sustainable future for aviation,” Cooper said.

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The fuel-supply arrangement, resulting from a partnership including Avfuel, Sheltair Aviation, and Neste, is meant to give attendees at the business aviation convention the option of fueling more sustainably during the show.

The SAF deliveries, made this week to Orlando Executive Airport (KORL) total 16,000 gallons. Avfuel said the fuel’s blend ratio of 30 percent SAF to 70 percent petroleum-based jet fuel is among the highest available for business aviation. The company said the two truckloads of fuel will cut carbon emissions by 38 metric tons during its lifecycle, which is the equivalent of carbon emissions from the consumption of 88 barrels of oil.

“It’s always exciting to welcome traffic back to BACE in Orlando, but we’re especially excited to be able to provide our customers with a sustainable option in SAF for the 2022 show,” said Eddie Dussault, general manager of Sheltair Orlando. “SAF is the best way to reduce carbon emissions; by partnering with Avfuel to provide this product to our customer base, we’re fueling the spirit of BACE with a concentration on and commitment to sustainable operations.”

• READ MORE: Aviation Industry Groups, NATA and NBAA, Welcome SAF Tax Credit

Neste MY SAF is made from renewable waste and residue raw materials that are sustainably sourced, such as used cooking oil. The SAF is an approved drop-in fuel that, when blended with petroleum jet fuel, meets ASTM D-1655, the standard specification for aviation turbine fuels.

Avfuel said that in addition to the SAF supplied at the show, it also delivered one truckload each to Embraer’s Melbourne, Florida campus through Sheltair’s Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB) FBO, and to Textron Aviation at its headquarters in Wichita, Kansas (at KICT). The two companies will use the SAF to fuel their aircraft flying in for static display at NBAA-BACE. 

“The Avfuel team is proud to have the capability to provide four extra full loads of SAF surrounding NBAA-BACE,” said Keith Sawyer, Avfuel’s manager of alternative fuels. “Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without Sheltair’s coordination to help customers fly sustainably, Neste’s dedication to SAF production, and the OEMs’ commitment to reduce emissions,” he added.

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