The test flight on the NH90 helicopter took place on February 3, 2023, at the expertise and test centre DGA Essais en vol in Istres.
Safran Helicopter Engines has supported TotalEnergies, Airbus Helicopters, DGA to carry out a flight test of an NH90 helicopter, with one RTM322 engine powered by the SAF.
Safran Helicopter Engines has supported, TotalEnergies, Airbus Helicopters, France’s defense procurement agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement – DGA) in carrying out the first test flight of an NH90 helicopter, during which one of its two RTM322 engines was powered by the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This fuel was produced by TotalEnergies from used cooking oil using HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) technology and has a carbon footprint four times smaller than that of fossil fuel. As such the SAF meets the European Union’s 65% abatement requirement for sustainable fuels.
This test flight on the NH90 helicopter took place on February 3, 2023, at the expertise and test centre DGA Essais en vol in Istres. This flight test marks a first for a military helicopter with such high content of SAF and without any engine modification. The fuel meets the aviation industry’s objective of accelerating decarbonization without making any modifications to the aircraft, engine or logistics infrastructure (known as drop-in fuel).
Christian Caneilles, head of Heavy Helicopter Engines programs, Safran Helicopter Engines, said, “this is an important step in our roadmap for the large-scale deployment of SAF, which will kick-start a decarbonization process within the armed forces to gradually reduce the use of fossil fuels”.
In December 2022, a bench test was conducted at Safran Helicopter Engines’ Bordes facility which validated the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel on the RTM322. SAF is one of the initiatives from Safran Helicopter Engines aiming to reduce CO2 emissions from in-service engines. Its turbine range is already certified to run on 50% SAF.
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Safran Helicopter Engines is working to certify operations with 100% SAF while assessing any operational impact on its partners and customers. When a 100% incorporation level is achieved, SAF offers a potential reduction in CO2 emissions of 80%.
