Airbus and U.K. Royal Air Force complete A330 flight fully-powered with sustainable fuel

An Airbus A330 MRTT owned and operated by the U.K.’s Royal Air Force has performed a flight using only sustainable aviation fuel in both engines, paving the way for reducing carbon emissions from military aircraft fleets, Airbus SE said.

The Toulouse, France-based company FR:AIR said the flight was the world’s first carried out by an in-service military aircraft running without using fossil fuel. It was also the first 100% SAF flight of any aircraft type carried out in the U.K. airspace, it said late on Friday.

The test, in which a U.K. Royal Air Force tanker conducted a 90-minute return flight in Oxfordshire, also involved fuel engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce UK:RR and BP’s UK:BP BP aviation division Air BP, Airbus said.

Sustainable aviation fuel, which is produced using waste-based feedstocks like cooking oil, reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to the conventional fuel it replaces, lessens the reliance on global supply chains and improves operational resilience by reducing the necessity for fuel resupplying, Airbus said.

By Maitane Sardon at wsj.com