Airbus Helicopters has completed the first ever flight of a helicopter, in which both engines were powered using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The test flight took place in Berlin, with an Airbus H225 using 100% SAF to power both its Safran Makila 2 engines.
The flight test campaign is aimed at understanding the use of SAF and its impact on helicopter's systems. Airbus Helicopters is looking to use SAF as one its key levers to achieve its ambition of reducing CO2 emissions from its helicopters by 50% by 2030.
“This flight with SAF powering the twin engines of the H225 is an important milestone for the helicopter industry. It marks a new stage in our journey to certify the use of 100% SAF in our helicopters, a fact that would mean a reduction of up to 90% in CO2 emissions alone,” said Stefan Thome, Executive Vice President, Engineering and Chief Technical Officer, Airbus Helicopters.
Airbus Helicopters had made an earlier test flight in November 2021, in which a H225 had one of its engines powered using 100% SAF. Airbus Helicopters has said that it will continue tests other types of helicopters with different fuel and engine architectures with a view to certify the use of 100% SAF by 2030.Airbus Helicopters had launched the SAF User Group in June 2021, to bring together all stakeholders to work on ways to accelerate the use of blended SAF kerosene. At present, all Airbus commercial aircraft and helicopters are certified to fly with up to a 50% blend of SAF, and the airframer has a stated goal to achieve certification of 100% SAF by 2030 for all its commercial aircraft and helicopters.