Inputs by Shuchi Giridhar
The fastest mode of long-distance travel is airplanes.
Commercial jets carry millions of passengers within and between countries every day.
Airplanes use a special kind of fuel called Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). This fuel is made of fossil fuels entirely – crude oil and its many refined forms.
As you know, fossil fuel reserves take millions of years to form and we may run out of the crude oil in the ground some day. So, all industries are trying to create fuel that is renewable.
Airbus has made a plane that runs on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The test airplane completed its three-hour trial flight from Blagnac airport in Toulouse to Airbus French headquarters on 25th March, 2022. The test flight was on the largest member of the Airbus fleet – the Airbus A380.
The airplane’s fuel is made of used cooking oil and waste fats. A Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine uses this fuel to fly the craft.
The first test flight of this technology was conducted some time ago. After the first test flight, Airbus conducted a second test to check the safety of the fuel during take off and landing. This time, the aircraft travelled from Toulouse to Nice in France.
This second test flight took place on March 29th.
The takeoff and landing of the flight was monitored this time.
A company based in France’s Normandy region, Total Energies, supplied Airbus with the fuel.
Fatty acids and Hydroprocessed esters were used to make the fuel. Due to this, it was free from both aromatics (smells) and sulfur.
Experiments with SAF powered flights have been going on for the last year. Last March, Airbus tested a flight using the A350 and in October, a single-aisle aircraft (A319 Neo).
Before this new fuel can be used in commercial flights, it will have to undergo tests in many weather conditions, geographies, and airplanes. Airbus hopes to get a certification by about 2030. By 2035, a commercial airplane that uses this green fuel should be on the market. (available to buy)
Some airline companies are already using limited quantities of this green fuel mixed with their regular ATF. But the price of SAF is very high. That discourages companies from using this green fuel.
*A319 Neo, A 350, A380 etc, are models of aircraft made by the Airbus company. Each of them has a different engine, weight, load carrying capacity, etc.
SAF is not the only green fuel being tested for airplanes. Airbus has also announced that the A380 will be tested on a hydrogen based fuel.