TOULOUSE, France - Europe-based aviation powerhouse Airbus announced this winter that findings from a study of the impact of 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on both engines of a commercial jet have provided promising early results.
The ECLIF3 study, involving Airbus, Rolls-Royce, German research center DLR, and SAF producer Neste measured SAF simultaneously on both engines of a commercial passenger aircraft – an Airbus A350 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.
In-flight emissions tests and associated ground testing on the ECLIF3 program began earlier in 2021 and have recently resumed. The interdisciplinary team, which also includes researchers from the National Research Council of Canada and The University of Manchester, plans to publish its results in academic journals towards the end of 2022 and 2023.
Findings from the study will support efforts currently underway at Airbus and Rolls-Royce to ensure the aviation sector is ready for the large-scale use of SAF as part of a wider initiative to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation industry. Aircraft are currently only allowed to operate on a 50% blend of SAF and conventional jet fuel, but both Rolls-Royce and Airbus support the drive to certify 100% SAF use.
In April 2021, the A350 flew three flights over the Mediterranean Sea pursued by a DLR Falcon chaser plane to compare in-flight emissions of both kerosene and Neste’s hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) sustainable fuel. The team also carried out compliance tests using 100% SAF and no operational issues were experienced.
In-flight emission tests using 100% SAF and a HEFA/Jet A-1 fuel blend resumed in November 2021, while ground-based emissions tests to quantify the benefits of SAF on local air quality were also performed. The research team found SAF releases fewer particulates than conventional jet fuel at all tested engine operating conditions.
