News Release Issued: Oct 12, 2023 (9:00am EDT)
To view this
release online and get more information about Boeing, visit: https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2023-10-12-Boeing,-NASA,-United-Airlines-To-Test-SAF-Benefits-with-Air-to-Air-Flights
Boeing, NASA, United Airlines To Test SAF Benefits with
Air-to-Air Flights
- Boeing ecoDemonstrator Explorer, a 737-10 for United
Airlines, will fly on SAF, trailed by NASA's DC-8 Airborne Science Lab
measuring non-CO2 emissions
- Studying how SAF can reduce soot and impact contrails
- Supported by FAA, GE Aerospace, German Aerospace Center
(DLR), World Energy
Photos(2)
EVERETT, Wash., Oct. 12, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- In a
collaboration to strengthen sustainability in aviation, Boeing [NYSE: BA] is
partnering with NASA and United Airlines for in-flight testing to measure how
sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) affects contrails and non-carbon emissions, in
addition to reducing the fuel's life cycle climate impact.
Boeing's second ecoDemonstrator Explorer, a 737-10 destined for United
Airlines, will fly with 100% SAF and conventional jet fuel in separate tanks
and alternate fuels during testing. NASA's DC-8 Airborne Science Lab will fly
behind the commercial jet and measure emissions produced by each type of
fuel and contrail ice particles. NASA satellites will capture images of
contrail formation as part of the testing.
The researchers aim to
understand how advanced fuels, engine combustor designs and other technologies
may reduce atmospheric warming. For example, tests will assess how SAF
affects the characteristics of contrails, the persistent condensation trails
produced when airplanes fly through cold, humid air. While their full impact is
not yet understood, some research has suggested certain contrails can trap heat
in the atmosphere.
World Energy is supplying SAF
for the tests from its Paramount, Calif., facility. Additional support
includes:
- U.S.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is providing funding through the
ASCENT Center of Excellence
- GE
Aerospace is providing technical expertise and project funding
- German
Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt or DLR) is
providing experts and instrumentation
The project is the latest
phase in a multi-year partnership between Boeing and NASA to analyze how SAF
can reduce emissions and enable other environmental benefits. Compared to
conventional jet fuel, SAF – made from a range of sustainably produced
feedstocks – can reduce emissions by up to 85% over the fuel's life cycle and
offers the greatest potential to reduce aviation CO2 over the
next 30 years. SAF also produces less soot which can improve air quality near
airports.
What the test partners are
saying:
- "We are
honored to collaborate with NASA, United Airlines, and other valued
partners on research that will strengthen the industry's understanding of
the benefits of SAF beyond reducing carbon emissions," said
Boeing Chief Sustainability Officer Chris Raymond. "We've solved hard
problems before, and if we continue to take meaningful actions, I'm
confident we'll achieve a more sustainable aerospace future,
together."
- "Flight
testing is complex and resource-intensive, yet it's the gold standard for
understanding how sustainable aerospace innovations affect changes in
contrails and climate," says Rich Wahls, NASA mission
integration manager for the Sustainable Flight National Partnership.
"This is why we're bringing NASA's DC-8 to bear on this collaboration,
where the valuable flight data will improve our predictive models."
- "This
collaboration between Boeing, NASA and United has the potential to not
only help us better understand contrails but to provide the full scope of
what our transition to SAF can provide beyond greenhouse-gas
reductions," said United Chief Sustainability Officer Lauren Riley.
- "We
at GE Aerospace proudly support this groundbreaking research collaboration
that will deepen our scientific understanding of the impact of SAF on
emissions for a more sustainable future of flight," said GE Aerospace
Vice President of Engineering Mohamed Ali.
- "To
achieve climate-compatible aviation, we need close international
cooperation. The German Aerospace Center has decades of experience in
research on the climate impact of the entire aviation system by advancing
measurement technology and simulations," says Markus Fischer, DLR
Divisional Board Member for Aeronautics. "The continuation of
transatlantic cooperation now finds a new summit and underlines the
international commitment to reduce the climate impact from aviation's CO2
and non-CO2 effects."
The Boeing ecoDemonstrator program was expanded this year to include Explorer airplanes focused on short-term, specific test
projects. Boeing and NASA conducted SAF emissions ground testing on an Alaska
Airlines 737-9 in 2021 and ecoDemonstrator 777-200ER and 787-10 flight-test
jets in 2022. Boeing has committed to deliver commercial airplanes
compatible with 100% SAF by 2030.
The 737-10 is the largest airplane
in Boeing's single-aisle 737 MAX family, which reduces fuel use and emissions
by 20% compared to airplanes it replaces.
As a leading global
aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial
airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150
countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a
global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and
community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the
future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the
company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Join our team and find
your purpose at boeing.com/careers.
At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs
in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New
York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates
the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and
is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For
more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the
company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent
company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol
"UAL".
GE Aerospace is a
world-leading provider of jet engines, components and systems for commercial
and military aircraft with a global service network to support these offerings.
GE Aerospace and its joint ventures have an installed base of more than 40,000
commercial and 26,000 military aircraft engines, and the business is playing a
vital role in shaping the future of flight. For more information, visit us at www.GEAerospace.com.
DLR is the Federal
Republic of Germany's research centre for aeronautics and space. We conduct
research and development activities in the fields of aeronautics, space,
energy, transport, security and digitalisation. The German Space Agency at DLR
plans and implements the national space programme on behalf of the federal
government. Two DLR project management agencies oversee funding programmes and
support knowledge transfer.
Contact:
Elisa Hahn
+1 (206)482-4872
elisa.alfstad-hahn@boeing.com
Boeing Media Relations
media@boeing.com
SOURCE Boeing
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