The German Aerospace Center (DLR) and ADAC Luftrettung, both institutional members of DKKV, have investigated the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in rescue helicopters for the first time. Two helicopters flew for over 1,800 hours with up to 38% SAF made from recycled vegetable or animal fats. DLR researchers investigated the emissions, combustion behavior and performance of the SAF blend in six measurement campaigns on the ground. In particular, they analyzed the released ultrafine particles and combustion gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOX). The measurements showed that the SAF blend emits significantly fewer ultrafine particles without impairing the performance of the engines. The precise emissions data from real flight operations provide valuable insights for the climate-friendly further development of aviation.
Further information on the report, DLR and ADAC Luftrettung can be found here.
(Image source: DLR (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0))