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Helicopter Engines
Press release

Safran Helicopter Engines introduce biofuel to its test cells

5 July 2021, Bordes

For the first time, Safran Helicopter Engines has run an Arrano engine using 38% of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Bordes plant in SW France. This biofuel was produced from used cooking oil. The ground run marks the first step of a strategy to deploy SAF in engine test cells at all Safran Helicopter Engines plants. By the end of the year, the manufacturer plans to use at least 10% SAF at all its French facilities. 

This milestone comes two weeks after Safran Helicopter Engines marked the first flight of a rescue helicopter using biofuel. An Airbus H145 of ADAC Luftrettung operated its twin Arriel 2E turbines on a mixture of 40 % biofuel and conventional Jet-A1. Safran Helicopter Engines and ADAC have agreed to continue studying biofuel usage on a daily basis with an helicopter based at Cologne. In parallel the manufacturer plans to conduct similar tests with other helicopter operators.

Franck Saudo, Safran Helicopter Engines CEO, commented, “reducing CO2 emissions is a collective responsibility that has been embraced by the women and men of Safran. By introducing SAF, and specifically biofuel, to helicopter operators and at our plants, we are reducing CO2 emissions at both. I am proud that once again, Safran has taken the lead in aviation decarbonization”.

Safran engines are already fully certified to operate on up to 50% sustainable fuel, including biofuel. The OEM’s ambition is to obtain a 100% biofuel approval by 2023. Emiting much less carbon throughout their entire life-cycle, these fuels could help reduce aviation CO2 emissions by up to 80%.

Safran Helicopter Engines introduce biofuel to its facilities

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 79,000 employees and sales of 16.5 billion euros in 2020 and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.

Safran Helicopter Engines is the world’s leading manufacturer of helicopter engines, with more than 75,000 produced since being founded. It offers the widest range of helicopter turboshafts in the world and has more than 2,500 customers in 155 countries.

For more information : www.safran-group.com and www.safran-helicopter-engines.com  / Follow @Safran and @SafranHCEngines on Twitter.

Contact(s)

Press contact / Safran Helicopter Engines
François Julian /  [email protected]
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