The tests were conducted at the ITP Aero’s facilities in Albacete, Spain, with the GE Aerospace CT7-8F5 engine, powering the Spanish Ministry of Defence’s NH Industries NH-90 helicopter.
ITP Aero, in a significant milestone towards reducing emissions and promoting sustainability in the aviation industry, has successfully completed engine testing using a blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and conventional jet fuel. The tests were conducted at the company’s facilities in Albacete, Spain, with the GE Aerospace CT7-8F5 engine, which powers the Spanish Ministry of Defence’s NH Industries NH-90 helicopter. Going forward, ITP Aero plans to utilize approved SAF blends in all CT7 engines, paving the way for a greener aviation future.
Colonel Juan Manuel Sánchez Coello, Chief of the OSC NH90 said, “The Spanish Armed Forces are firmly committed to minimizing the environmental impact of air operations and, therefore, they support all efforts to meet this objective while also maintaining a balance between efficiency, costs and safety in their flights. Today, the Spanish Armed Forces, and in particular the OSC NH90 as the Military Office for the common sustainment of the Spanish NH90 fleet, welcomes this initiative by ITP Aero to promote the use of SAF fuel in its engines, and it hopes that this contribution will serve to promote that in the near future SAF becomes an affordable and available standard supply in our daily activity.”
GE Aerospace’s Commercial Turboshaft Engines Director, Elissa Lee, lauded ITP Aero’s commitment, acknowledging the company as the first maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility to utilize SAF for GE Aerospace engine testing. This milestone represents a significant step forward for the CT7 program and the entire aviation industry’s collective efforts to reduce emissions.
Álvaro Santodomingo, Director of Defence, ITP Aero said, “This milestone is a further step in our commitment to continue advancing the use of SAF and is in line with our objective to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Together, we are positioning Spain as a major player in the use of SAF, and we are proud to be able to do so now hand in hand with the Ministry of Defence.”
Andrés Guevara, Chairman of BP Spain, applauded their contribution to the decarbonization of the Ministry of Defence’s operations by supplying SAF from their Castellón refinery. BP Spain’s commitment to decarbonizing the aviation sector includes plans to increase the production capacity of SAF in Castellón to 450,000 tonnes per year by 2027.
Elissa Lee, Director of Commercial Turboshaft Engines, GE Aerospace said, “ITP Aero is the first maintenance, repair and overhaul facility to commit to utilizing SAF for its GE Aerospace engine testing. This effort represents a very significant step forward for the CT7 program as well as industry efforts to reduce emissions from flight and operations. After more than a decade of partnership, we are proud to celebrate this milestone with ITP Aero, a proven customer service leader for our CT7 customers.”
The successful engine testing with SAF marks an important step in ITP Aero’s ongoing initiatives to promote sustainability in aviation. It joins a series of projects aimed at utilizing SAF in various platforms of the Spanish Ministry of Defence. As part of the Air and Space Army’s BACSI (Connected, Sustainable, and Intelligent Air Base) program, ITP Aero collaborated to increase the effectiveness, productivity, efficiency, and sustainability of air bases. During the air parade of the last “Hispanic National Day,” the Eagle Patrol made history by flying with SAF for the first time. ITP Aero designed an innovative instrumentation system to validate the use of SAF in the engines powering the C-101 aircraft used by the Eagle Patrol, ensuring proper operation with SAF.
Andrés Guevara, Chairman, BP Spain said, “We are very pleased to contribute to the decarbonisation of the Ministry of Defence’s operations by supplying SAF from our refinery in Castellón, the first refinery worldwide to obtain CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting & Reduction Scheme for Intentational Aviation) certification. Our commitment to help decarbonise the aviation sector includes increasing the production capacity of SAF in Castellón to 450,000 tonnes/year by 2027”.
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ITP Aero’s dedication to promoting SAF usage in collaboration with GE Aerospace and BP will undoubtedly contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally responsible aviation industry. With over 100 million flight hours, the GE CT7/T700 engines are a ubiquitous choice, and ITP Aero’s pioneering efforts in SAF adoption will set a precedent for others in the industry to follow suit. As the world focuses on reducing carbon emissions, this initiative marks a pivotal moment in the journey towards greener skies.
