Airbus flew its A380 on 100% sustainable aviation fuel made from used cooking oil

As per a statement on Airbus’ website, the first A380 flight fueled by 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) took place on Friday (March 25).

An A380 test aircraft flew for 3 hours with one of its four engines fuelled by 100% sustainable aviation fuel.

Airbus stopped constructing the A380 double-decker plane more than three years ago, announcing that production would conclude in 2021.

However, it appears that the corporation is utilizing one of those massive jets as a testbed to experiment with technology. Therefore, they are preparing for the aviation industry’s future.

For the uninitiated, Airbus has previously flown aircraft with 100 percent SAF, including the A350 and A319neo last year. These latest flights, however, are the first time it has flown the A380.

The Airbus A380 is a huge wide-body airplane that Airbus designed and manufactured. It is the world’s largest passenger airliner.

Airbus’ Goal: 100% SAF certification

Airbus’ SAF program manager, Steven Le Moing, described the SAF-powered engine’s performance as “normal”. It is similar to what they’d seen in prior tests on other aircraft.

Airbus’ A380 test plane took off from Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, France at 08:43 on March 25th, according to the firm. The flight lasted around three hours, using one Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine operating at 100% SAF.

The SAF was created using Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA). They were free of aromatics and sulfur and predominantly comprised of leftover cooking oil and other waste fats.

“Increasing the use of SAF remains a key pathway to achieving the industry’s ambition of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Key statistics outlined in the Waypoint 2050 report indicate that SAF could contribute between 53% and 71% of required carbon reductions,” the firm said. 

It’s worth noting that all Airbus planes are presently certified to fly with up to a 50% blend of SAF mixed with kerosene. By the end of this decade, the goal is to obtain 100% SAF certification.

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