The first in-flight study of a single-aisle aircraft running on unblended Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) recently witnessed a major milestone, when an Airbus A319neo test aircraft made a flight operating one engine on 100% SAF.
The initial results from a series of ground and flight tests are to be made available next year.
The flight test was performed as part of a study, known as VOLCAN (VOL avec Carburants Alternatifs Nouveaux), conducted under the supervision of the French Minister of Transports, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari.
The French companies participating in VOLCAN are Airbus, Dassault Aviation, Safran and ONERA. French petrochemical giant Total Energies supplied the unblended SAF, which is made from Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) and primarily consists of used cooking oil and other waste fats.
Approximately 57 tonnes of SAF will be used for the entire test campaign.
The ultimate goal of VOLCAN is to promote the large-scale deployment and use of SAF along with the certification of 100% SAF for use in single-aisle commercial aircraft and new-generation business jets.
As part of the VOLCAN study, 100% SAF will also be used for compatibility and engine operability studies on the Safran Helicopters Arrano engine, used on the Airbus Helicopters H160. These tests are slated to begin in 2022.