Neste collaboration with Airbus, Safran and Microflite achieves Australia’s first helicopter flight using sustainable aviation fuel
Neste Corporation, News, 28 February 2023
Photo: The helicopter landing at Moorabbin Airport, Australia. Source: Airbus
Neste, Airbus, Safran Engines and Microflite, a leading Australian helicopter operator, have jointly operated Australia’s first helicopter flights using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). On this demonstration flight, an Airbus H130 helicopter powered by a Safran Arriel 2D engine used blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplied by Neste.
SAF provides a more sustainable, renewable alternative to conventional, fossil based jet fuel. Today’s flight using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ demonstrates that SAF is a solution available today to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions of air travel. The helicopter took off from Moorabbin Airport near Melbourne, and will be expected to fly for a total of 60 minutes over the next few days, and is fueled with a 40/60 blend of SAF with conventional jet fuel.
Witnessing the SAF demonstration flight launch at the Avalon Airshow, The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government of Australia said “Sustainable aviation fuels represent a tangible opportunity for the aviation sector to cut its emissions in the short to medium term and it is encouraging to see that happening first hand. Our Jet Zero council will work with industry so that we can see more initiatives like this across Australia.”
“As a young and dynamic aviation company with a strong vision to lead excellence in sustainable aviation, we have a fleet of over 20 aircraft conducting passenger, aerial work, and emergency services operations. Our ten-year strategy is to transition our entire fleet to either SAF or electrically powered flight. This Australian-first use of SAF in a rotary-wing aircraft has been achieved through a collaboration with our valued industry partners, and Microflite is proud of the commitment from Airbus, Safran and Neste to join us in leading a sustainable aviation industry,” said Chief Operating Officer Rodney Higgins from Microflite.
“We are pleased to support Airbus, Safran and Microflite on this demonstration flight with the first-ever delivery of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel to Australia,” said Sami Jauhiainen, Vice President APAC, Renewable Aviation at Neste. “The fuel was delivered to Avalon with the support of our partner, Itochu Corporation. With the expansion of our Singapore refinery starting operations at the end of the first quarter this year, we will be able to produce up to one million tons of SAF annually, ready to support the aviation industry with its emission reduction targets in the Asia Pacific region and globally.”
“The use of SAF is one of Airbus’ levers to reduce carbon emissions, and we are proud to have achieved this milestone SAF flight with long-standing partners Safran and Microflite,” said Stephen Forshaw, Airbus Chief Representative for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. “This demonstration flight underscores Airbus’ commitment to help our customers achieve more sustainable operations. It is an important step in our journey towards decarbonisation, as we join like-minded industry partners for a wider adoption of SAF in flights.”
“This is an important step in our roadmap for the large-scale deployment of SAF,” said Cedric Jochum, Managing Director of Safran Helicopter Engines Australia. “Safran Helicopter Engines turbine range is already certified to run on 50% SAF and our team is working to certify operations with 100% SAF. When a 100% incorporation level is achieved, SAF offers a reduction in CO2e emissions of up to 80%.”
Sustainable aviation fuel
Using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%* over the fuel’s life cycle compared to using fossil jet fuel. Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is produced from sustainably sourced, 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste. SAF is blended with conventional jet fuel and works seamlessly with existing fueling infrastructure and aircraft engines.
*) When used in neat form (i.e. unblended) and calculated with established life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, such as CORSIA methodology
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Neste in brief
Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates solutions for combating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. We refine waste, residues and innovative raw materials into renewable fuels and sustainable feedstock for plastics and other materials. We are the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel and developing chemical recycling to combat the plastic waste challenge. We aim at helping customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions with our renewable and circular solutions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030. Our ambition is to make the Porvoo oil refinery in Finland the most sustainable refinery in Europe by 2030. We are introducing renewable and recycled raw materials such as liquefied waste plastic as refinery raw materials. We have committed to reaching carbon-neutral production by 2035, and we will reduce the carbon emission intensity of sold products by 50% by 2040. We also have set high standards for biodiversity, human rights and supply chain. We have consistently been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and the Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies. In 2022, Neste's revenue stood at EUR 25.7 billion. Read more: neste.com
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