Emirates tests Boeing 777-300ER powered by SAF engines – WORLD

Emirates tests Boeing 777-300ER with SAF engineEmirates has completed its first major test flight of a single-engine Boeing 777-300ER powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).Emirates has completed its first major test flight of a single-engine Boeing 777-300ER powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The flight, which lasted over an hour over the coast of Dubai, took off from Dubai International Airport (DXB) under the command of Pilot Captains Fali Wajifdar and Khalid Nasser Akram. The flight crew was accompanied by Emirates COO Adel Al Redha and Emirates Senior Vice President of Flight Operations Capt. Hassan Hammadi. The SAF test flight is of particular importance as the UAE has designated 2023 as the Year of Sustainability. This year will demonstrate the UAE’s determination to seek innovative solutions to challenges such as energy, climate change and other issues related to sustainability. This flight supports the industry’s collective efforts to use 100% SAF in the future and help the UAE achieve its sustainability goals. The flights will also help set the rules for future SAF testing and support the certification process where 100% SAF replacement fuel is approved for aircraft. SAF is currently approved for use on all aircraft only when blended up to 50% with conventional aviation fuel. Emirates has partnered with GE Aerospace, Boeing, Honeywell, Neste and Virent to procure and develop a blend of SAF that has the characteristics of conventional aviation fuel. fuel. A number of measurements of the chemical and physical properties of the fuel were performed at each mixture ratio. After extensive laboratory testing and rigorous testing, a blending ratio that replicates the qualities of aviation fuel has been achieved. 18 tons of SAF containing HEFA-SPK (water treated ester and fatty acids and synthetic paraffinic gas oil) supplied by Neste and HDO-SAK (synthetic aromatic gas oil deoxygenated with water) supplied by Virent were mixed. While one of the GE90 engines used 100% SAF, the other used conventional aviation fuel. The test flight also demonstrated the compatibility of specially blended SAF as a safe and reliable source of fuel. The promising outcome of this initiative is generating a full range of industry data and research on SAF blends. It also paves the way for standardization and future approval of 100% SAF for jet fuel replacement.Emirates Airline Chief Operating Officer Adel Al Redha said: “This flight is a milestone for Emirates and a positive step for our industry. We are working together to reduce our carbon footprint, which is one of our biggest challenges. We have come a long way to see this 100% SAF test flight Emirates has become the first passenger airline to operate a 100% SAF Boeing 777 powered by one of GE’s engines. Initiatives like this make an important contribution to industry knowledge of SAF by providing data showing the use of higher proportions of SAF blends for future regulatory approvals. Such proof test flights help scale up the supply chain, making SAF more accessible and affordable. hope this helps. Most importantly, we hope this will help make it cost-effective for greater industry acceptance in the future.” great achievement. SAF is playing a critical role in helping the aviation industry reach the goal of zero zero by 2050, and collaborations like this to test 100% SAF will bring us closer to that goal. All GE Aerospace engines today can run approved SAF blends and we are helping to support the approval and implementation of 100% SAF.” He praised this success achieved in 2023. This success is also a very important step towards reducing carbon emissions and achieving the climate-neutral goal.Saif Humaid al-Falasi continued his speech as follows:“At ENOC, we prioritize working closely with our strategic business partners to deliver the national roadmap for sustainable aviation fuels. This not only aims to accelerate the decarbonization of the aviation industry, but also contributes to the UAE achieving its climate-neutral goals, improving fuel efficiency and savings, and positioning the UAE as a regional sustainable aviation fuel hub. aviation fuel to Dubai airports. By providing and blending sustainable aviation fuel, the ENOC group shares this success.” help to minimize CO2 emissions. The airline also supports IATA’s joint industry commitment to achieving zero emissions by 2050 and is exploring opportunities to improve operational fuel efficiency, SAF, low-carbon aviation fuel (LCAF), and renewable energy. It also has a comprehensive fuel efficiency program that is actively researching and implements routes to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption and emissions. Key activities of the program include the introduction of “flex routes” or flexible routes, working in partnership with air navigation service providers to create the most efficient flight plan for each flight. This work has been ongoing since 2003 and Emirates has been working with IATA to implement this route as standard operating procedure worldwide to the extent possible. Emirates made its first flight using SAF blended with aviation fuel in 2017 on a Boeing 777 flight from Chicago O’Hare. The airline took delivery of the first SAF-powered A380 in 2020 and refueled 32 tonnes of SAF for flights from Stockholm the same year.