A rescue helicopter has flown on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the first time, achieving a new milestone in international aviation. Operated by the German non-profit organization ADAC Luftrettung, the Airbus H145 rescue helicopter had its Arriel 2E engines ceremonially refueled with biofuel, a type of SAF, at the air rescue station at Munich’s Harlaching Clinic in the presence of the ADAC Foundation’s board of directors, as well as the managing directors and top management of ADAC Luftrettung, the engine manufacturer Safran Helicopter Engines, the helicopter manufacturer Airbus Helicopters, and the energy company TotalEnergies. Together, these companies will be a driving force in the decarbonisation of helicopter flight by developing alternatives to conventional aviation fuels.

The H145 was using a second-generation biofuel – the SAF of choice of the aviation industry – which reduces CO2 emissions up to 90 % compared to its fossil equivalent, because it is produced from residual and waste materials from the circular economy such as used cooking oils and fats. As a result, the fuel has no impact on agricultural food production.

The fuel used for the first rescue helicopter flight in Munich was produced by TotalEnergies at its facility in France from used cooking oil, without using any virgin plant-based oil. With this SAF, the ADAC Luftrettung fleet could achieve a 33 percent reduction in CO2 emissions, which, with more than 50,000 rescue missions and more than 3.3 million kilometers flown per year, equates to a reduction of around 6,000 tons of CO2.

ADAC Luftrettung and engine manufacturer Safran Helicopter Engines share the same ambition to contribute to the development of sustainable aviation fuel. To this effect they are launching a project with one ADAC rescue helicopter in Cologne. The project will study all aspects of biofuel usage on the H145, with an operational campaign to start as early as summer 2021.

Following the biofuel premiere, the managing directors of ADAC Luftrettung and Safran Helicopter Engines, Frédéric Bruder and Franck Saudo, signed a long-term agreement on SAF, which envisages increasing the blending ratio of biofuel to as much as 100 percent in the coming years and subsequently also promoting the use of synthetic e-fuel, also known as Power-to-Liquid (PTL), another drop-in alternative to fossil fuels. PTL refers to the generation of liquid fuels produced using electrical energy from renewable sources, which, along with the use of biofuel, will allow aviation to get closer to climate-neutral aviation.

Biofuel is currently certified and approved for aviation use in a maximum blend of 50 percent with conventional kerosene of the JET-A1 type. The ADAC rescue helicopter was flown on a 40 percent blend.

Dr. Andrea David, CEO of the non-profit ADAC Foundation, to which ADAC Luftrettung belongs, says that, “for us, the Sustainable Aviation Fuel pilot project is a first big step on the way to a climate-neutral ADAC Foundation and air rescue service, and our contribution as a non-profit organisation to achieving the climate protection goals of Germany and Europe.”

“We want to be a pioneer in reducing CO2 in emergency medical services with environmentally friendly kerosene. This means we must also develop air rescue technologically so that the use of SAF is future-proof in the longer term. To achieve this, we have strong partners at our side,” adds Frédéric Bruder, Managing Director of ADAC Luftrettung. “Importantly, SAF is an officially approved fuel, which means that flight and patient safety remain at the highest level.”

Franck Saudo, CEO Safran Helicopter Engines, says: “Safran is leading engine industry efforts to reduce helicopter carbon dioxide emissions. Along with this historic first flight, we signed an agreement with ADAC Luftrettung to expand the use of SAF in their Safran-powered helicopter fleet. All Safran engines are certified to operate on up to 50 percent sustainable fuel, including biofuel. Our goal is to reach 100 percent.”

Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, says: “Pioneering sustainable aerospace is a clear ambition for Airbus and enabling the use of sustainable aviation fuel is an important milestone for our industry. Today’s event is the first step in reinforcing Airbus Helicopters’ ambition of having the lowest CO2 emission product range in the world.”

Christian Cabrol, Managing Director TOTAL Deutschland GmbH, adds: “TotalEnergies has set itself the target to get to net-zero emissions together with society by 2050. By developing biofuels, we are helping our aviation industry customers reduce the carbon intensity of the energy products they use. Our sustainable aviation fuel can be used without any modification to the logistical infrastructure for storage and distribution and thus also directly in aircrafts and helicopters. We are experiencing this in practice today. Last March, we successfully started the production of sustainable aviation fuels in France, that has already been put in use for a long-haul flight between Paris and Montreal two weeks ago, and we will soon make it available to our German customers.”

The H-1 mixed fleet of AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom attack and utility helicopters have accumulated more than 400,000 joint-flight hours. Designed by Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, as the dedicated military helicopters for the United States Marine Corps (USMC), the Viper and Venom have been deployed around the world across a full spectrum of military operations since 2010.

“Reaching the 400,000 hour milestone represents the collective efforts of the men and women dedicated to upholding the H-1’s legacy of success,” said Mike Deslatte, Bell H-1 vice president and program director. “The AH-1Z and UH-1Y program exemplifies the vital cooperation between industry and program to ensure we maintain an overwhelming competitive edge against future enemies.”

The USMC program of record is for 349 H-1 aircraft split between the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom, with production continuing through 2022 for the USMC and then beyond that for foreign military partners. The aircraft are expected to be in service for the USMC through the 2040’s, and Bell supports operations with continuous upgrades to maintain reliability, survivability and lethality on an evolving battlefield.

The aircraft modernization program includes modifications like Link-16 integration as part of a defined road map of planned improvements designed to ensure the H-1 platform maintains its technological edge and combat capability throughout its service life.

“Reaching this milestone is a culmination of thousands of hours of work by pilots, maintainers, engineers, test teams, and industry partners. It is a true team effort,” said Col Vasilios Pappas, program manager PMA-276. “The H-1s have defended warfighters for six decades, and with the integration of new capabilities, H-1s will continue to support warfighters for decades to come.”

The AH-1Z Viper’s dedicated attack ability combines dedicated weapons against ground, maritime, or aviation targets with great standoff range. The UH-1Y Venom’s design as a versatile utility platform can perform any function on the battlefield from resupply, troop inserts, close air support, and many others. Together, the H-1 aircraft share a unique differentiator in military aviation. The platforms possess 85% commonality of major systems and parts, enabling the USMC to quickly share critical components and reduce the logistical footprint and training required to operate the aircraft in austere environments.

The Viper and Venom are designed for sea and land-based operations and marinized from manufacture.  The benefits of the marinized environmentally hardened design for the H-1 extend to protection from the elements, enabling reliability and availability across diverse environments, including desert, maritime, snow and tropical conditions.

Aviator Airport Alliance, a full-range provider of aviation services at 15 airports across the Nordics and a family member of Avia Solutions Group, renewed a partnership agreement with easyJet airlines for ground handling services.

The contract was won through Aviator’s subsidiary Copenhagen Flights Services ApS (CFS). The company will provide easyJet airlines with full ground handling services, from check-in, to push back, to de-icing services, at Copenhagen Airport.

CFS has been working with easyJet for over 10 years already and the newly renewed contract extends the partnership for 5 more years.

Linus Olofsson, Station Manager at Copenhagen Flights Services, commented on the renewal: “During such turbulent times, strong and reliable partnerships are of utmost importance. We are glad that easyJet decided to continue working with us and chose Copenhagen Flights Services as their ground handling providers at Copenhagen Airport. We are sure that our flexible, quality services will meet every easyJet ground handling and de-icing need.”

Jo Alex Tanem, CEO of Aviator Airport, commented: “We are delighted to see the continuation of strong and successful partnership between CF Sand easyJet. Over the 10 years of working together, we were able to maintain a great relationship, focused on mutual business benefit. We trust that this renewal will allow both companies to further grow and prosper.”

Valerie Germanon, Head of Ground Operations Delivery and Paul Butler, Regional Operations & Contracts Manager at easyJet, had this to say about the new partnership: “We are very happy to work with Copenhagen Flights Services. Over the years we have found CFS to be a trustworthy and extremely professional partner, so the continuation of the agreement is an exciting development. We hope to be able to work together for many years to come.”

Airbus has doubled down on its response to the COVID-19 crisis in India, delivering more than 36 tonnes of additional medical equipment to the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) and deploying humanitarian flights to move supplies from abroad as well as within the country.

Airbus is delivering oxygen plants, ventilators, oxygen concentrators, BPAP breathing machines and mobile intensive care units (ICUs), further boosting its individual contribution to the global humanitarian effort to tackle the second wave of COVID-19 infection in India. An A350 test aircraft delivered a part of the consignment comprising oxygen concentrators and ventilators from Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse, France, on Wednesday. The remaining materials are sourced from India.

The latest mission is Airbus’ second tranche of support to the country. The Company has already contributed with funds to a consolidated response coordinated by the French embassy in India, which included the delivery of eight large oxygen generators, ventilators, electric syringe pumps, anti-bacterial filters and patient circuits as part of a 28-tonne consignment. Much of the equipment has been deployed, and it is helping save hundreds of lives across India.

“Airbus stands behind India in solidarity and service. Our focus is to support not only our employees, customers, and partners but also as many people of India as we can,” said Rémi Maillard, President and MD of Airbus India & South Asia. “This is our common fight against the virus and we at Airbus are committed to doing our best to help in these challenging times for India and the world.”

The latest contribution from Airbus comprises two oxygen generator plants, 250 oxygen concentrators, 30 ventilators, 100 BPAP breathing machines and four ICUs-on-wheels. Airbus is working with the Indian government and the IRCS, the nodal agency for handling of international aid, to ensure the smooth deployment of the materials.

Additionally, the Airbus Foundation is in touch with international and Indian NGO partners to support any need for transportation of relief materials from Europe. Airbus Foundation has also secured helicopter flight hours to move aid within India.

 “The crisis is still unfolding. Its fallout will have to be managed over the coming many months,” Maillard said.

 “Our Indian NGO partners are already evaluating the knock-on impact of the crisis on livelihoods and children’s education. Airbus will expand support to them to meet the additional challenges.”

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HiFly presented the new wingtip TRINITAIR, capable of reducing fuel consumption by up to 2% and on particular applications even more than that. In aviation each kg of fuel saved on a flight reduces CO2 emissions by 3.16 kg. This unprecedented equipment will bring airlines not only financial benefits; they will also enable them to strongly reduce their environmental footprint.

This pioneering initiative to create sustainable innovation, that will forever revolutionize the aviation industry, is now on its final phase. The new climate-saving and greenhouse-gas-emission reducing project will have its maiden test-flight on a Hi Fly A330. Hi Fly will be the first airline in the world to go on a flight with this new technology, supporting the transformation to a greener environment.

The first tests were carried out on the A330 CS-TQP, it remains to be seen if it will be the same aircraft involved in the tests of the new device.

“In an industry that is increasingly more concerned with a sustainable planet, and which is looking to have a positive impact with its day to day operations, investing in environmentally friendly technology is the right way to a better world”, says Paulo Mirpuri, President of Hi Fly and the Mirpuri Foundation.

The new wingtip provides an enhanced aerodynamic solution, assisting aircraft manufacturers and airlines to reduce their CO2 emissions. TRINITAIR was designed by The Aircraft Performance Company GmbH (The APC) as a cost-effective retrofit solution for valuable in-service aircraft. Along with a downtime of less than one day for installation, the new hardware brings performance enhancement, lower engine wear, range extension and payload increase as well as a significant reduction of fuel burn that leads to lower emissions of CO2 and NOX.

Harald Zirngibl, Managing Director of The APC, explains that “With its 3-finger wingtip solution, born from a sketch on a napkin, The APC is developing a new technology that enables aircraft to reduce its carbon footprint. The new winglet not only reduces fuel consumption, but also optimizes the overall performance. The engineers at The APC uses well-founded, patented knowledge of flow and structural mechanics to achieve an optimal circulation distribution of the outer wing by locally influencing or expanding the wingtip vortex.

A flight from Frankfurt to Hong Kong, for example, would save at least 1.2 tons of fuel. Applied to global air traffic, this means a considerable overall reduction in fuel and thus in CO2 emissions. The handling of available resources, cost effectiveness and pragmatism are also fundamental. Increasing the efficiency of valuable in-service aircraft will immediately benefit our environment. With the “Plug & Fly” concept, the winglets are airworthy within one day. The use of further resources to optimize the fleets is kept as low as possible.

It is not the time to wait for the one big solution that can make aviation emission-free in one fell swoop. Effective and implementable transitional steps must be taken quickly on the way there, which drive and support the entire process – that’s our approach at The APC.”

TRINITAIR is a joint project for the environment supported by Hi Fly and its principal sustainability partner, the Mirpuri Foundation

Airbus announced today that it has signed its first Flight Hour Services (FHS) contract with a North American customer. U.S.-based airline JetBlue is acquiring long-term Airbus components maintenance services for its 70 A220 aircraft on order. The A220 started operations with JetBlue in April 2021.

The maintenance-by-the-hour service contract includes material services with on-site-parts stock management, as well as access to Airbus’ pool of parts, engineering and repair services.

“As for all Airbus aircraft programmes, A220 customers are benefitting from Airbus’ renowned maintenance FHS programme. We are extremely proud  to welcome JetBlue as our first FHS customer in North America and be able to further increase its A220 fleet’s availability in support of traffic resuming”, said Dominik Wacht, Head of Airbus Customer Services, North America.

“With a substantially lower direct operating cost over other aircraft in our fleet from both fuel and non-fuel savings, the A220 also helps further reset JetBlue’s maintenance costs well into the decade,” said Bill Cade, Vice President Technical Operations, JetBlue. “Airbus’ FHS solution helps support our long-term financial goals as they relate to maintenance and supports our ability to offer low fares and award-winning service to more JetBlue customers.”

JetBlue will be the third A220 airline operator to use Airbus’ FHS service. Over 150 A220s have been delivered to nine airlines operating routes in Asia, America, Europe and Africa, proving the great versatility of Airbus’ latest family member.

This first FHS contract for Airbus in North America confirms the growing expansion of Airbus’ maintenance-by-the-hour solution to accompany traffic restart: over the last six months, eleven FHS contracts have been signed with operators worldwide.