Story ID: 349
HAI Promotes SAF Use at Heli-Expo 2024
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: Rotorcraft arriving in Anaheim for annual helicopter convention can fill up on SAF at the staging area
Word Count: 430
For the first time ever, Vertical Aviation International (VAI) promoted the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for turbine helicopters arriving to Heli-Expo. Show organizers said 60 aircraft arrived over the weekend at the Anaheim Convention Center for the 2024 convention, including 45 flown from a staging area at Fullerton Municipal Airport, where SAF is being stocked specifically for the event.
At Fullerton, VAI had SAF on hand sourced from Titan Aviation Fuels with the assistance of local FBO General Aviation Co.. The latter company dispensed it into aircraft from all the major helicopter manufacturers, including Airbus Helicopters, Bell, Leonardo, MD Helicopters, and Robinson.
SAF is produced from organic materials such as waste oils, algae, fats, alcohols, sugars, and captured carbon dioxide. In its neat (unblended) form, it can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 80 percent compared to traditional petroleum-based jet-A. This is important for the aviation industry, which—according to the Environmental Protection Agency—contributes up to 12 percent of the U.S. transportation sector’s emissions.
Currently, SAF makes up a tiny portion of the overall fuel supply and comes at a higher cost than jet-A—two factors that need to be overcome, according to VAI president and CEO James Viola. “VAI is doing what we can to bring down the cost of SAF and increase its use,” he said, adding that the organization recognizes the importance of reducing the industry’s impact on the environment.
“Some aviation customers or clients will prefer using operators who use SAF as it upholds their corporate values or permits them to report a reduced environmental impact,” he noted.
VAI told AIN that it had enough SAF brought in to meet exhibiting company demand, with the organization covering the delta between the price of SAF and jet-A. At present, turbine helicopters are authorized to use up to a 50 percent SAF blend.
However, otorcraft and engine OEMs have been steadily testing their products with higher percentage SAF blends to ensure compatibility with the renewable fuel. In November 2021, Airbus was the first to demonstrate the use of 100 percent SAF in flight, with one engine of a H225 burning it in a demonstration. That was followed seven months later by a flight with both Safran Makila 2 engines running on neat SAF.
Last February, during a test flight a Bell 505 became the first single-engine helicopter to fly on 100 percent SAF. OEMs are hoping to receive approvals for 100 percent SAF blends in their turbine helicopters in the coming years.
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