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Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has reached a breakthrough milestone. Gulfstream Aerospace completed the first-ever transatlantic flight with 100% SAF, thanking Eaton and other suppliers for support in the company’s news release. The achievement not only showcased the significant promise of SAF but also the power of industry collaboration and engineering excellence.
Ahead of the history-making journey, Gulfstream engaged Eaton to ensure our fuel gauging technology aboard the G600 aircraft, including a patented, first-of-its-kind digital fuel quantity measurement system (FQMS), would function over the 7-hour flight from Savannah, Georgia to Farnborough, United Kingdom. The sustainable fuel utilized aboard the flight is made of hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), which results in at least 70% lower lifecycle CO2 emissions. The fuel is low density, utilizes more energy per pound and makes the aircraft more efficient. Fortunately, Eaton’s continuous SAF research and analysis combined with the flexibility of the fuel gauging system enabled our aerospace engineers to support the mission with precision and speed.
Our team evaluated various aspects of our equipment to ensure it would deliver highly accurate fuel quantity and density measurements throughout the flight.
Key actions and assessments included:
· Material resistance: Our team verified HEFA fuel, which contains zero added aromatics, would have no adverse effects on fuel quantity measurements.
· Electrical properties: The FQMS readings are based on capacitive fuel probes coupled with temperature, density and dielectric sensors aboard the G600. Our analysis verified HEFA wouldn’t interfere with sensor communication or function.
· Flight simulation: We conducted a complete simulation of the fuel gauging hardware and software, ensuring proper function over the transatlantic flight’s time and distance.
The successful flight test underscored SAF as a viable alternative to traditional jet fuel, reducing aviation’s impact on climate and air quality.
For Eaton and our customers, it demonstrated the compatibility and functionality of our products in a 100% SAF setting, not to mention the steadfast commitment of our engineering team. We’re proud to play a key role in moving sustainable fuels from a possibility to a full-scale reality.
“This is a huge win for the aerospace industry,” said Jeff Skinner, director of engineering, Aerospace Group. “Innovation and collaboration are key to reaching net zero emissions, and we’re proud to play a role in supporting the approval and adoption of sustainable fuels.”
