GE Honda Aero Engines has successfully completed the testing of its HF120 engine using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The engine that powers the HondaJet has thus far been approved to run on SAF blends of up to 50 percent.
Ground testing was conducted on the engine over several days at GE’s Peebles, Ohio test operations center using HEFA-SPK, the most widely available SAF, produced from a feedstock of plant-based used cooking oil, waste fats, and greases. The results of the test were “very favorable,” with performance equivalent to that of conventional jet-A.
“We are excited to share one of the steps GE Honda Aero Engines is taking toward carbon neutrality based on our belief that reducing our impact on the environment is not just an initiative but an obligation,” explained Shinji Tsukiyama, the powerplant manufacturer’s executive v-p. "In addition to HF120’s best-in-class fuel efficiency, future use of 100 percent SAF on HF120 will further contribute to environmental sustainability."
GE Honda is a 50/50 joint venture between GE and Honda. Both companies are part of international efforts that seek to standardize industry specifications and ensure the safety of SAF.