Safran Helicopter Engines completed a first at its Bordes site (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France): the end of a helicopter engine test campaign using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). During this campaign, a Makila 2 ran on a biofuel produced by TotalEnergies from residues and waste from the circular economy, specifically used cooking oil. Safran engines are already certified to operate with up to 50% SAF. With 100% incorporation, the lower carbon footprint of these fuels will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80%. TotalEnergies is a broad energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity.
Franck Saudo, CEO of Safran Helicopter Engines says, “After the first flight of a rescue helicopter using 40% SAF in June, and the fuel’s gradual introduction for engine tests at our sites since July, we are now taking a new step toward using fuel made entirely from renewable sources. This test campaign is a key step in the realization of future test flights with our helicopter partners. The use of sustainable fuels among helicopter operators and at our sites, is a promising lever to significantly reduce CO2 emissions over the entire life cycle of our products.
Virginie Merini, Senior Vice President, Renewable Fuels at TotalEnergies say,”By offering our customers like Safran sustainable aviation biofuels produced in France, we are meeting a strong demand from the aviation industry to reduce its carbon footprint. The development of biofuels is one of the main thrusts of TotalEnergies’ multi-energy strategy to meet the challenge of decarbonizing the transportation sector. This is fully in line with the Company’s climate change ambition of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.”
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. 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 76,000 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.
