Demonstration Flight Organized By SAJF

The Daher TBM 910 very fast turboprop aircraft exhibited at this week’s European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) was flown to the Geneva aviation show using Jet A fuel blended with biofuel.

This demonstration flight was organized by the business aviation coalition for sustainable alternative jet fuel (SAJF) utilizing a Jet A/biofuel mix produced by Neste – a world-leading renewable products producer – and made available to Daher by Air BP.

The fuel meets the industry’s ASTM D7566 aviation turbine fuel containing synthesized hydrocarbons standard specification and has been approved for the TBM’s PT6A turboprop engine by Pratt & Whitney Canada, the powerplant manufacturer.

By combining the Jet A/biofuel mix with the low fuel consumption of Daher’s TBM 900-series aircraft (37 U.S. gallons per hour/139 liters per hour at long-range flight settings), the flight from France’s Caen Carpiquet Airport to Geneva created 80% less greenhouse gas emissions than a light jet burning regular Jet A fuel on an equivalent trip.  

The SAJF coalition was formed two years ago to promote fuels that can reduce emissions – a long-term goal for the business aviation community. Its participants include the primary industry organizations worldwide, such as the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the International Business Aviation Council, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

“As a coalition member, Daher welcomed this opportunity to demonstrate our support for development and adoption of sustainable alternative jet fuel,” explained Nicolas Chabbert, Senior vice president of Daher’s Airplane Business Unit. “We flew our team in confidence to EBACE aboard the TBM 910. It’s now on to the next steps: the production and distribution of biofuel; and expanding its use in meeting aviation’s goal of carbon-neutral growth from 2020.”

(Image provided with Daher news release)

FMI: www.daher.com