EAST HARTFORD, Conn., - AE International Aero Engines AG (IAE) has successfully tested the V2500 engine with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at MTU Maintenance in Hannover, Germany. IAE, a multinational consortium consisting of Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business in East Hartford, Conn., Pratt & Whitney Aero Engines International GmbH, Japanese Aero Engines Corporation in Tokyo, and MTU Aero Engines AG, made the announcement. The V2500 engine is utilized in the A320ceo family aircraft and the Embraer C-390 Millenium.
"This test with 100% SAF demonstrates that V2500 engines can continue contributing towards making aviation more sustainable in the decades ahead," stated Kim Kinsley, president of IAE AG and vice president of Mature Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney. "With nearly 3,000 V2500-powered aircraft in service today, IAE recognizes our important role in supporting the industry's goal to meet net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. We anticipate the majority of our eight IAE company shops will be prepared to use SAF in their operations in the next few years."
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The V2500 engine test utilized 100% Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosine (HEFA-SPK) fuel supplied by Neste. HEFA-SPK is produced by hydrotreating renewable raw materials, such as waste oils or fats, into an aviation turbine fuel and is a prominent sustainable alternative to conventional jet fuels. Pratt & Whitney continues collaborating closely with the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) and ASTM International towards developing future specifications for 100% SAF.
"MTU Maintenance Hannover is the first maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility worldwide to carry out a 100% SAF test on a V2500," noted Michael Schreyögg, Chief Program Officer at MTU Aero Engines. "This test demonstrates our commitment to supporting greater use of SAF across both our entire network and the broader industry. We remain dedicated to working with IAE, suppliers, and partners to ensure not only that our products are capable of operating with SAF but also that our maintenance, repair, and overhaul infrastructure can support all operators and owners with their SAF testing requirements."
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The V2500 engine offers a fuel-efficient propulsion system, with up to a 3% fuel burn and emissions advantage over prior-generation engines. It is approved for operation on SAF blended at up to 50% with conventional Jet A and A-1 fuel. The V2500 powers commercial, cargo, and military platforms, with a 35-year history.