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UNITED flies first with 100% ‘Sustainable Aviation Fuel’

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This week, United Airlines made aviation history by flying from Chicago to Washington, D.C. using “sustainable aviation fuel,” or SAF as it is known in the aviation industry. SAF is a significantly less hazardous environmentally friendly option.

The trip took place aboard a Boeing 737 Max 8 carrying 100 people and consuming around 500 gallons of SAF. The right engine went 612 miles on 100 percent SAF, emitting 75 percent less CO2 than a trip on standard jet fuel, bringing us closer to making 100 percent green carbon neutral flying the norm.

100 percent SAF is a fuel mix consisting of about 80% HEFA (world energy) and 20% SAK (VIRENT) that is being developed as a replacement for approved fuels such as jet A-1. SAF has a fraction of the carbon impact of traditional fossil fuels, according to the US Department of Energy, and the country’s feedstock supplies are deep enough to pilot the entire aviation industry

The big picture: Aviation is one of the hard-to-decarbonize sectors of the economy, especially since airlines and plane manufacturers are already working to squeeze every ounce of efficiency out of an airframe, such as using lighter materials and more fuel-efficient engines.

At the moment, airlines are only allowed to utilize a maximum of 50% SAF on board. This means that any flight using SAF is now using a blend of SAF and regular jet fuel in the same engine.

What makes this flight historic is, United Airlines was granted permission to run one engine on 100 percent SAF and the other on conventional jet fuel to demonstrate that there are no operational differences. This also paves the way for more scalable SAF applications in the future of aviation.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.

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