First All-SAF Airliner Flies

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Key Takeaways:

  • Braathens Regional Airlines conducted the first commercial flight powered entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
  • An ATR 72-600 aircraft successfully completed the flight using 100% SAF in both engines.
  • This milestone demonstrates the viability and potential for widespread adoption of SAF in the aviation industry.
  • The flight marks a significant step towards low-emission aviation, signifying a transition from traditional kerosene.
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A Swedish regional airline is claiming the first flight of a commercial airliner with all the tanks filled with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Braathens Regional Airlines flew a prototype ATR 72-600 with artificial kerosene powering both engines. ATR, the airline and an unnamed fuel producer have been testing the concept for a year and got rid of the safety net this week.

“Today is a historic day for aviation. After more than a century of commercial flights powered by kerosene, we are at the dawn of a new era,” said ATR CEO Stefan Bortoli. “The flight represents a true milestone for the entire aviation industry as it shows that this technology works and can be promptly adopted by many in our industry to speed up the transition to low-emission aviation.”

Russ Niles

Russ Niles is Editor-in-Chief of AVweb. He has been a pilot for 30 years and joined AVweb 22 years ago. He and his wife Marni live in southern British Columbia where they also operate a small winery.
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