Video Transcript
Virgin Atlantic landed a permit from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, enabling the airline to complete a transatlantic flight using exclusively Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
The flight, dubbed Flight100, is scheduled for November 28, when the plane will travel from Heathrow Airport in London to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Before issuing the permit, the UK Civil Aviation Authority reviewed a program that analyzed aspects of the scheduled flight. The analysis included ground tests with British automotive manufacturer Rolls-Royce on a Trent 1000 engine powered by 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Preparations for the flight involved financial support from the UK’s Department for Transport and collaboration with companies such as Boeing and BP.
Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss stated in a press release that the permit marks an achievement for the teams that worked for over a year on Flight100. Weiss added that the company plans to use 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel by the end of the decade.
Following this permit approval, Virgin Atlantic could submit applications to the FAA, Transport Canada, and the Irish Aviation Authority, which could lead to 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel flights through Canadian, Irish, and American airspace.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel, sourced from non-petroleum-based renewable origins, could replace or be mixed with kerosene. Production methods for making Sustainable Aviation Fuel include synthesized fuels from hydrogen waste, algae, and the direct capture of carbon dioxide.
According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, Sustainable Aviation Fuel could limit lifecycle carbon emissions by more than 70% compared to traditional fossil jet fuel. However, international standards do not currently allow for more than a 50% blend of synthetic fuel and conventional jet fuel.
