Safran Helicopter Engines has supported, TotalEnergies, Airbus Helicopters, France’s defense procurement agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement – DGA) in carrying out the first test flight of an NH90 helicopter, during which one of its two RTM322 engines was powered by the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This fuel was produced by TotalEnergies from used cooking oil using HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) technology and has a carbon footprint four times smaller than that of fossil fuel. As such the SAF meets the European Union’s 65% abatement requirement for sustainable fuels.
This test flight on the NH90 helicopter took place on February 3, 2023, at the expertise and test centre DGA Essais en vol in Istres. This flight test marks a first for a military helicopter with such high content of SAF and without any engine modification. The fuel meets the aviation industry’s objective of accelerating decarbonization without making any modifications to the aircraft, engine or logistics infrastructure (known as drop-in fuel).