Embraer Executive Jets has successfully flown a Phenom 300E and Praetor 600 using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the manufacturer announced on the eve of NBAA-BACE 2023. The flight tests took place at Embraer’s campus in Melbourne, Florida.
During those test flights, the right engine of each airplane was powered by neat SAF provided by World Fuel, while the left engine ran on traditional jet-A. According to Embraer, the flight tests provided valuable insights into the engines’ performance.
“This achievement is an important milestone in our journey toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and demonstrates our commitment to sustainability, our customers, and our stakeholders,” said Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Michael Amalfitano.
The Phenom 300E light jet is powered by a pair of 3,478-pound-thrust Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E1 engines, while the midsize Praetor 600 is propelled by two 7,638-pound-thrust Honeywell HTF7500E turbofans.
This flight-test campaign marks the first time that a Honeywell business jet engine has flown on pure SAF, and the engine “performed just as flawlessly as when running on traditional jet fuel,” Honeywell said.