Gulfstream Completes World’s First Transatlantic Flight Using 100 Percent SAF
Powered by two Pratt and Whitney engines, the G600 traveled from Savannah, Georgia to Farnborough Airport yesterday.
(Savannah, Georgia) Gulfstream Aerospace announced that it completed the first-ever transatlantic flight using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) yesterday, November 19th, via a G600 powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW815GA engines.
Photo courtesy of Gulfstream Aerospace.
The flight departed Gulfstream’s headquarters in Savannah, Georgia and landed six hours and 56 minutes later at Farnborough Airport (IATA: FAB, ICAO: EGLF) in southern England.
The SAF used on the flight was produced by World Energy and delivered by World Kinect (formerly World Fuel Services). The fuel was comprised of 100% Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (neat HEFA), which has at least 70% lower lifecycle CO2 emissions than fossil-based jet fuel. This zero-added aromatics fuel has a reduced impact on local air quality and very low sulfur content, which can reduce non-CO2 environmental impacts, according to Gulfstream.
“Gulfstream is innovating for a sustainable future,” said Gulfstream President Mark Burns. “One of the keys to reaching business aviation’s long-term decarbonization goals is the broad use of SAF in place of fossil-based jet fuel.”
The data collected from this endurance flight will help to gauge aircraft compatibility with future low-aromatic renewable fuels, particularly under cold temperatures for extended flight durations, according to a press release from Gulfstream.
"Collaborating with airframe manufacturers such as Gulfstream is an important part of our long-standing efforts to ensure SAF compatibility across all our engines, which have already been certified to operate with up to 50% SAF blends for more than a decade," said Anthony Rossi, vice president of Sales & Marketing at Pratt & Whitney Canada.
