Airbus, Safran, Dassault Aviation, ONERA and Ministry of Transport are jointly launching an in-flight study, at the end of 2021, to analyse the compatibility of unblended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with single-aisle aircraft and commercial aircraft engine and fuel systems, as well as with helicopter engines. This flight will be made with the support of the “Plan de relance aéronautique” (the French government‘s aviation recovery plan) managed by Jean Baptiste Djebbari, French Transport Minister.
Known as VOLCAN (VOL avec Carburants Alternatifs Nouveaux), this project is the first time that in-flight emissions will be measured using 100% SAF in a single-aisle aircraft.
Airbus is responsible for characterising and analysing the impact of 100% SAF on-ground and in-flight emissions using an A320neo test aircraft powered by a CFM LEAP-1A engine.
Safran will focus on compatibility studies related to the fuel system and engine adaptation for commercial and helicopter aircraft and their optimisation for various types of 100% SAF fuels.
ONERA will support Airbus and Safran in analysing the compatibility of the fuel with aircraft systems and will be in charge of preparing, analysing and interpreting test results for the impact of 100% SAF on emissions and contrail formation. In addition, Dassault Aviation will contribute to the material and equipment compatibility studies and verify 100% SAF biocontamination susceptibility.
The various SAFs used for the VOLCAN project will be provided by TotalEnergies.
Related Topics
FAA Orders Inspection of Hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft Over Potential Fuselage Cracking
FAA Certifies Boeing 737-7
Somon Air Takes Delivery of First Boeing 737-8, Launching the MAX Era in Tajikistan
US-Bangla Airlines to Add 21 Boeing 737s to Drive Fleet Expansion Plan
Plataforma Informativa de Aviación Comercial con 13 años de trayectoria.