Embraer and Pratt & Whitney have successfully tested a E195-E2 aircraft on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The aircraft completed two days of ground tests at Fort Lauderdale International Airport, culminating in a 70-minute flight test at Vero Beach Regional Airport in Florida.
During the test flight one the aircraft’s PW1000G engines ran on SAF to validate that it can use biofuel blends of up 100% without any compromise to safety or performance.
Rodrigo Silva e Souza, vice president strategy and sustainability, Embraer Commercial Aviation said,
“This test demonstrates that the E2 is ready for 100% SAF certification and operation once the industry finalizes standards.
“The E2 is already the most efficient single aisle aircraft flying today, saving up to 25% carbon dioxide emissions compared to previous generation aircraft. This reduction in emissions can be increased up to an impressive 85% with 100% SAF.
“Replacement of older aircraft by new generation products and scaling up SAF production are the two most effective actions commercial aviation can take now to achieve a significant reduction in emissions,”
All Pratt & Whitney engines and Embraer aircraft are currently certified to operate with SAF blended up to 50% with standard Jet A/A1 kerosene, according to ASTM International specifications. Future specifications will enable blends of up to 100% SAF to maximize the emissions reduction potential of using fuel derived from sustainable, non-fossil-based feedstocks.
“SAF is a core part of our sustainability road map, and we continue to work with industry partners and regulators to support the development of a drop-in standard for 100% SAF,” said Graham Webb, chief sustainability officer at Pratt & Whitney. “This test proves that GTF engines can operate on any fuel, and that the E-Jets E2 family is ready for 100% SAF certification once the industry finalizes the standard for unblended SAF.”
The SAF used by Embraer and Pratt & Whitney was 100% Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosine (HEFA-SPK) acquired from World Energy. HEFA-SPK is a specific type of hydrotreated renewable feedstock fuel used in aviation and is considered a leading alternative replacement for conventional jet fuel by the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), due to the sustainability of its feedstock.
