Airbus just flew its mammoth A380 superjumbo jet using fuel made with cooking oil

Taylor RainsMar 31, 2022, 01:14 IST

Airbus A380 MSN 1.Airbus

Airbus just flew its first-ever-made A380 using 100% sustainable aviation fuel.
The company hopes to introduce the world's first zero-emission jet by 2035, having already SAF-tested an A350 and A319neo.

The global aviation industry accounts for about 2% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions, according to data from ATAG. The heavy carbon footprint has prompted airlines and manufacturers to find ways to cut emissions to net-zero by 2050.

Aircraft flying above treesDG Stock/Stutterstock

The global aviation industry accounts for about 2% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions, according to data from ATAG. The heavy carbon footprint has prompted airlines and manufacturers to find ways to cut emissions to net-zero by 2050.

The ambitious goal will require innovative technologies, with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) becoming a popular solution among carriers and planemakers alike.

Fueling SAF onto a United flight.United Airlines

In December, United Airlines operated the world's first passenger flight using 100% SAF in one engine, reducing emissions by about 75% compared to traditional jet fuel.

United Airlines is the first airline in the world to use 100% SAF on a passenger flight.United Airlines

Now, Airbus is ramping up its SAF testing with the first flight of an A380 superjumbo using 100% biofuel made of cooking oil and other waste fats. The company hopes to introduce the world's first zero-emission aircraft by 2035.

Airbus A380 MSN 1.Airbus

Now, Airbus is ramping up its SAF testing with the first flight of an A380 superjumbo using 100% biofuel made of cooking oil and other waste fats. The company hopes to introduce the world's first zero-emission aircraft by 2035.

On Friday, the planemaker's first-ever A380, known as MSN 1, took off from Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, France, and flew three hours before returning to the airfield. One of the aircraft's Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines was powered during the flight using 100% SAF.

Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine.Gideon Mendel/Corbis via Getty Images

On Friday, the planemaker's first-ever A380, known as MSN 1, took off from Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, France, and flew three hours before returning to the airfield. One of the aircraft's Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines was powered during the flight using 100% SAF.

A second test flight using the same A380 was conducted on Tuesday to monitor how the SAF performed during take-off and landing. The aircraft flew from Toulouse to Nice, flying for about two and a half hours.

Courtesy of FlightAware.com

A second test flight using the same A380 was conducted on Tuesday to monitor how the SAF performed during take-off and landing. The aircraft flew from Toulouse to Nice, flying for about two and a half hours.

About 27 tonnes of fuel, which was produced in Normandy, France, was provided to Airbus by French oil and gas company TotalEnergies. According to the manufacturer, the SAF was made from hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), which are "free of aromatics and sulphur."

TotalEnergies

About 27 tonnes of fuel, which was produced in Normandy, France, was provided to Airbus by French oil and gas company TotalEnergies. According to the manufacturer, the SAF was made from hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), which are "free of aromatics and sulphur."

"The flight test met all of our requirements, which will enable us to carry out the next phase of the project consisting of specific engine manoeuvers," Airbus test pilot, Wolfgang Absmeier, said.

Airbus

"The flight test met all of our requirements, which will enable us to carry out the next phase of the project consisting of specific engine manoeuvers," Airbus test pilot, Wolfgang Absmeier, said.

The A380 is the third aircraft Airbus has tested with 100% SAF over the past year, the first being an A350 in March 2021...

Airbus

...and the second was an A319neo in October 2021.

Fueling the A319neo for its SAF flight.Airbus

According to Airbus, the SAF "could contribute between 53% and 71% of required carbon reductions," as outlined in ATAG's Waypoint 2050 report.

A319neo SAF test flight.Airbus

Currently, all Airbus planes can be operated using 50% SAF blended with traditional jet fuel, though the company hopes to increase that to 100% by 2030.

Airbus

The A380 test flights come after Airbus' ZEROe Demonstrator announcement in February. The planemaker plans to use the same A380 as the testbed for its hydrogen power technology.

Airbus A380 ZEROe demonstrator.Airbus

The A380 test flights come after Airbus' ZEROe Demonstrator announcement in February. The planemaker plans to use the same A380 as the testbed for its hydrogen power technology.

Partnering with CFM International, Airbus plans to create a "direct combustion engine fueled by hydrogen," which will be ground tested and flight tested using MSN 1.

Airbus ZEROe Turbofan engine.Airbus

Four liquid hydrogen tanks will be positioned towards the tail, with an additional hydrogen combustion engine mounted on the outside of the fuselage. The engine is derived from General Electric's PassportTM turbofan.

Airbus A380 ZEROe demonstrator.Airbus

Four liquid hydrogen tanks will be positioned towards the tail, with an additional hydrogen combustion engine mounted on the outside of the fuselage. The engine is derived from General Electric's PassportTM turbofan.

The tanks will be used on Airbus' ZEROe aircraft, which the company hopes will be the world's first zero-emission commercial aircraft. Currently, the planemaker has plans for concepts including a prop plane, a regular turbofan, and a blended wing turbofan.

Airbus ZEROe planes.Airbus

The tanks will be used on Airbus' ZEROe aircraft, which the company hopes will be the world's first zero-emission commercial aircraft. Currently, the planemaker has plans for concepts including a prop plane, a regular turbofan, and a blended wing turbofan.

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Airbus just flew its mammoth A380 superjumbo jet using fuel made with cooking oil

The global aviation industry accounts for about 2% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions, according to data from ATAG. The heavy carbon footprint has prompted airlines and manufacturers to find ways to cut emissions to net-zero by 2050.

The ambitious goal will require innovative technologies, with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) becoming a popular solution among carriers and planemakers alike.

In December, United Airlines operated the world's first passenger flight using 100% SAF in one engine, reducing emissions by about 75% compared to traditional jet fuel.

Now, Airbus is ramping up its SAF testing with the first flight of an A380 superjumbo using 100% biofuel made of cooking oil and other waste fats. The company hopes to introduce the world's first zero-emission aircraft by 2035.

On Friday, the planemaker's first-ever A380, known as MSN 1, took off from Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, France, and flew three hours before returning to the airfield. One of the aircraft's Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines was powered during the flight using 100% SAF.

A second test flight using the same A380 was conducted on Tuesday to monitor how the SAF performed during take-off and landing. The aircraft flew from Toulouse to Nice, flying for about two and a half hours.

About 27 tonnes of fuel, which was produced in Normandy, France, was provided to Airbus by French oil and gas company TotalEnergies. According to the manufacturer, the SAF was made from hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), which are "free of aromatics and sulphur."

"The flight test met all of our requirements, which will enable us to carry out the next phase of the project consisting of specific engine manoeuvers," Airbus test pilot, Wolfgang Absmeier, said.

The A380 is the third aircraft Airbus has tested with 100% SAF over the past year, the first being an A350 in March 2021...

...and the second was an A319neo in October 2021.

According to Airbus, the SAF "could contribute between 53% and 71% of required carbon reductions," as outlined in ATAG's Waypoint 2050 report.

Currently, all Airbus planes can be operated using 50% SAF blended with traditional jet fuel, though the company hopes to increase that to 100% by 2030.

The A380 test flights come after Airbus' ZEROe Demonstrator announcement in February. The planemaker plans to use the same A380 as the testbed for its hydrogen power technology.

Partnering with CFM International, Airbus plans to create a "direct combustion engine fueled by hydrogen," which will be ground tested and flight tested using MSN 1.

Four liquid hydrogen tanks will be positioned towards the tail, with an additional hydrogen combustion engine mounted on the outside of the fuselage. The engine is derived from General Electric's PassportTM turbofan.

The tanks will be used on Airbus' ZEROe aircraft, which the company hopes will be the world's first zero-emission commercial aircraft. Currently, the planemaker has plans for concepts including a prop plane, a regular turbofan, and a blended wing turbofan.