Bell 505 Helicopter Racks Up the SAF Flight Hours

Bell has reached a milestone in sustainability, logging more than 700 flight hours burning blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on one of its light-single Bell 505 helicopters. In 2021, the rotorcraft manufacturer stated it would incorporate the use of SAF in its demonstration fleet and at its helicopter training academy.

A year later, Bell announced a partnership with Safran Helicopter Engines to explore technical performance and economic impacts of SAF on the Safran Arrius 2R-powered Model 505. The 505 made its first flight on unblended, 100% SAF in early 2023, making it the first single-engine helicopter to do so.

“We are particularly pleased with these SAF flights in partnership with Bell,” said Jean-François Sauer, executive v-p of programs with Safran Helicopter Engines, adding SAF is key to more sustainable helicopter use.

SAF is approved for commercial use in blends of up to 50% with jet-A. “Very soon, our engines will be capable of 100% drop-in SAF, paving the way for wider use of this type of fuel for increased sustainability of helicopter operations,” Sauer noted.