Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has successfully completed the world’s first trans-Atlantic flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The flight, which took place on a Gulfstream G600 aircraft, departed from the company’s headquarters in Savannah and landed at Farnborough Airport in England after a journey of 6 hours and 56 minutes.
Powered by Pratt & Whitney PW815GA engines, both using 100% SAF, this mission demonstrates the potential for aviation’s future use of renewable fuels. The SAF used on the flight, produced by World Energy and delivered by World Fuel Services, is composed of 100% Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (neat HEFA), which has at least 70% lower lifecycle CO2 emissions than fossil-based jet fuel, helping to reduce aviation’s impact on climate.
“Gulfstream is innovating for a sustainable future,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “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. The completion of this world-class flight helps to advance business aviation’s overarching sustainability mission and create positive environmental impacts for future generations.”
The data collected from this endurance flight will help Gulfstream and its key suppliers assess aircraft compatibility with future low-aromatic renewable fuels, particularly under cold temperatures for extended flight durations.
“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, vice president, Sales & Marketing, Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Other key partners supporting this milestone include Honeywell, Safran, and Eaton. “We’d like to thank all our partners for their help in making this milestone flight happen, and for their ongoing partnership in collaborating with the extended SAF community to champion the aviation industry’s path to 100% SAF usage,” said Burns.
