Aviation

UNITED flies first with 100% ‘Sustainable Aviation Fuel’

United Airlines Adds Six New Denver Routes and 35 New Flights

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

Boeing Resumes 737 MAX Manufacturing After Seven-Week Strike

In a crucial move for its recovery, Boeing has restarted production of its best-selling 737 MAX jetliner, about a month after a significant seven-week strike involving 33,000 factory workers came to an end.

This marks a key milestone for the planemaker, which has been facing considerable challenges in recent years, including heavy debt and a series of setbacks.

Another Nation Set to Acquire Embraer C-390 Millennium Aircraft

According to the report from Reuters, Boeing resumed the production of the 737 MAX jetliner last week, a pivotal step as the company aims to meet the growing global demand for air travel. With over 4,200 orders from airlines, Boeing’s ability to get the 737 MAX production line back in motion is vital for its financial recovery.

Although Boeing had previously planned to restart production earlier, the company faced numerous obstacles that delayed this process. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) head Mike Whitaker told Reuters on Thursday that while Boeing had not yet resumed production, they had plans to restart by the end of the month.

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

The road to this point has been rocky for Boeing. Setbacks such as the tragic fatal crashes of the 737 MAX, the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing supply chain issues, production safety concerns, and increased regulatory scrutiny have all contributed to delays in the company’s efforts to ramp up production.

The seven-week strike, which involved thousands of Boeing’s factory workers, added yet another hurdle. Despite these challenges, production of the 737 MAX officially resumed on Friday, according to one of the anonymous sources.

Boeing, however, declined to comment on the matter. The planemaker is now focused on reaching its goal of producing 56 737 MAX airplanes per month, a target that has been delayed due to the many issues that have beset the company over the past few years.