Approval and Testing Continues on Nearly a Dozen Discrete Models

GE Aerospace announced the completion of testing on its 10th engine model burning 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in 2016.

The milestone gave them a chance to crow about their eco-friendly bonafides, particularly important as the industry looks at looming net-zero goals. The development surrounding 100% SAF usage continues to pick up speed, with most of its current testing programs having already moved far beyond various blends of traditional Jet-A. Now, the race is on to offer carriers the first airliner with 100% guilt-free, SAF-powered revenue flight.

GE said its first test of pure SAF took place with one of FedEx's 777 freighters , evaluating both its GE90 engines. In '21, they tested it out on a LEAP-1B engine using one of Uniteds' 737-8s. After that, they moved onto the Boeing ecoDemonstrator Explorer, a United 737-10. That emissions test with NASA helped to push the envelope further. Emirates checked out the GP7200 engines of an A380 on 100% SAF earlier this year. All in all, GE notes, testing has taken place on the F414, GE9X, LEAP-1A, Passport, GEnx, HF120, and CFM56 engine platforms. These tests also evaluated a wide scope of factors, such as engine performance and the impact of 100% SAF on contrails and emissions.

“These tests demonstrate that we are leading and prepared to support our customers to operate on Sustainable Aviation Fuel. We’re proud of doing the hard work to better understand the impact of different emissions on the environment and using science to guide the technology we are developing to invent the future of flight,” said Mohamed Ali, vice president of engineering for GE Aerospace.

FMI: www.geaerospace.com