Virgin Atlantic wins UK allow for 100% sustainable aviation gas transatlantic flight.
Virgin Atlantic will fly from London to New York on Nov. 28 utilizing 100% sustainable aviation gas (SAF), after Britain gave it permission, paving the best way for a world first as airways step up efforts to decarbonise journey.
Airways are pinning their hopes on SAF, which makes use of waste reminiscent of cooking oils to cut back emissions by as much as 70% in comparison with fossil fuels, to decarbonise flying earlier than new electrical and hydrogen-powered choices anticipated within the coming a long time.
SAF is at the moment used to energy jet engines however solely as a part of a mix with conventional kerosene.
Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority granted Virgin Atlantic a allow for a transatlantic flight powered solely by SAF to showcase how the gas can be utilized to decarbonise flying.
The allow was awarded following plenty of technical opinions by the UK regulator, together with profitable floor testing of operating the Rolls-Royce (RR.L) Trent 1000 engine that powers Virgin’s 787 plane.
Virgin should now search permission from regulators in america, Eire and Canada for the flight.
SAF accounted for under 0.5% of aviation gas in 2021, however many airways have a goal of 10% by 2030 and the trade’s objective of “web zero” emissions by 2050 depends on SAF accounting for 65% of gas.
Virgin stated it hoped the flight would spotlight the necessity the problem to make SAF extra available. At present SAF is just made in small volumes and prices between three to 5 instances as a lot as common jet gas.
Shai Weiss, Virgin Atlantic CEO stated in a press release.
We’re dedicated to utilizing 10% SAF by 2030, however to get there we want the federal government to help the creation of a UK SAF trade.
Virgin Atlantic wins UK allow for 100% sustainable gas transatlantic flight, November 6, 2023
