Ready for takeoff.
United
United Airlines made historical past on Wednesday by working the world’s first passenger flight utilizing 100% sustainable aviation gas. The aircraft took off from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and headed to Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, with greater than 100 passenger on board, in line with an organization press launch.
“Aviation historical past is cleared for takeoff,” United tweeted, together with a video of the takeoff. Passengers included United CEO Scott Kirby, enterprise leaders, authorities officers, members of the media, NGOs and executives from associate firms together with Boeing and World Energy, which makes SAF, or industrial sustainable aviation gas.
Get the Roadshow publication
See the newest vehicles and automotive tendencies from supercars to SUVs. Delivered Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The aircraft used was a brand new United 737 Max 8. “Currently, airways are solely permitted to make use of a most of fifty% SAF on board,” United stated. “The SAF used on in the present day’s flight is drop-in prepared and suitable with present plane fleets.”
United acquired permission to function one engine utilizing 100% SAF, whereas the opposite used standard jet gas “to additional show there are not any operational variations between the 2 and to set the stage for extra scalable makes use of of SAF by all airways sooner or later.” The aircraft flew 612 miles, and the engine utilizing SAF emitted an estimated 75% much less carbon dioxide than a flight utilizing conventional jet gas, United stated.
“Today’s SAF flight shouldn’t be solely a major milestone for efforts to decarbonize our trade,” Kirby stated in an announcement, “however when mixed with the surge in commitments to provide and buy various fuels, we’re demonstrating the scalable and impactful means firms can be a part of collectively and play a job in addressing the most important problem of our lifetimes.”