World’s first 100 percent SAF transatlantic flight 1 step closer, ground testing successful

The world’s first flight on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel is imminent as Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce have set a date for the inaugural transatlantic flight. The flight will take place on Nov. 28 in a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, pending additional regulatory approvals and testing. The flight first 100 percent SAF flight will travel from London Heathrow to New York JFK.

Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce confirmed the success of SAF blend ground testing on the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine. This milestone means the world is one step closer to its first SAF-fueled flight over the ocean. The ground test used a SAF blend of 88 percent HEFA and 12 percent aromatics on the Trent 1000 engine.

“We are incredibly proud that our Trent 1000 engines will power the first ever flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel across the Atlantic,” Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace President Rob Watson said. “Confirming that we have successfully completed the ground test of the Trent 1000 engine today, using the chosen 100% SAF blend, gives us increased confidence for the engine’s performance and operation ahead of the flight this November. The flight will represent an incredible milestone for the entire aviation industry in its journey towards net zero carbon emissions.”

Additionally, fuel suppliers Air bp and Virent will supply 60 tons of SAF to be used in the project. The fuel will support consortium research, testing and the first flight. The SAF will be produced through the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) pathway and the synthetic aromatic kerosene (SAK) at an 88 percent and 12 percent blend ratio.

Virgin Atlantic is dedicated to finding new, green ways to fly toward net zero carbon emissions by 2050. It already operates as one of the most carbon-efficient fleets in the Atlantic. The mission for the SAF flight is part of a 15-year mission for leading SAF. The November flight will demonstrate how far the industry can go with SAF. The tests and first flight will show that today’s engines, airframes and fuel infrastructure can deliver 100 percent SAF.

SAF delivers CO2 lifecycle emissions savings of more than 70 percent while still performing like the jet fuel it replaces. Alternative fuel options like SAF play a fundamental role in the decarbonization of the industry. Currently, SAF represents less than 0.1 percent of jet fuel volumes and fuel standards allow for a 50 percent SAF blend in commercial jet engines. The November flight will validate the potential SAF has to be a 100 percent drop-in replacement for fossil fuel.

The first 100 percent SAF transatlantic flight requires cross-industry collaboration. Dedicated teams are working on research, testing and operations to make the project a success. Virgin Atlantic led a consortium, funded by the Department for Transport. It includes Rolls-Royce, Boeing, University of Sheffield, Imperial College London and Rocky Mountain Institute. The engine test is a key milestone in testing, but more safety approvals and permissions are required before the flight in November can take place.

.@VirginAtlantic is one step closer to operating the world’s first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel transatlantic flight, after completing successful engine tests. The historic take-off is set for this coming November. Very exciting: https://t.co/dKCZqVrR2m #VirginFamily pic.twitter.com/W9I6DHehBQ

— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 20, 2023

“Boeing is proud to provide technical expertise and support for this testing as we gear up for Virgin Atlantic’s flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner to make the first 100% SAF transatlantic flight,” Boeing VP of Environmental Sustainability Sheila Remes said. “We look forward to continuing to work with our project partners on this journey, taking one more step towards a sustainable future of flight.”

Virgin Atlantic and the Consortium will use the transatlantic flight to further SAF use. The flight will also address other environmental impacts from the industry. The project will show the additional reductions in CO2 from operational efficiencies, contribute to research and development into the non-CO2 impact of flying, and provide an end-to-end life cycle analysis of the flight. Other residual CO2 emissions from the flight will be alleviated using new carbon removals from biochar projects.

“The 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel transatlantic flight will be a historic moment in aviation’s roadmap to decarbonization,” Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss said. “Alongside fleet transformation, SAF is the most readily available way for our industry to decarbonize, but currently there’s not enough supply and without it and the radical collaboration required to produce it, we can’t meet our 2030 targets. We need UK government support to create a UK SAF industry to allow for every single flight out of the UK to operate with 100% SAF – if we make it, we can fly it.”