en.Wedoany.com Reported - Gulfstream Aerospace announced that it has successfully completed the first high-altitude flight test campaign using 100% pure sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), aiming to demonstrate SAF's potential in reducing particulate emissions that contribute to contrail formation.
During the test, the Gulfstream G800 aircraft and Pearl 700 engine flew on 100% SAF for the first time. A specially modified Gulfstream G700 aircraft was converted into an in-flight emissions measurement laboratory. By flying in close formation, researchers precisely captured actual measurements of particulate matter and atmospheric properties related to contrail formation at an altitude of 50,000 feet—higher than most commercial airliners but typical for business aviation.
The campaign was conducted in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence (ASCENT), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Missouri University of Science and Technology, Aerodyne Research, Rolls-Royce, Montana Renewables, and World Fuel Services. The goal was to isolate the impact of fuel composition on non-CO2 emissions. The team compared the effects of conventional Jet A, low-sulfur Jet A, and pure hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) SAF. Preliminary results indicate a significant reduction in particulate emissions that contribute to contrail formation when using pure SAF.
Mark Burns, President of Gulfstream, stated that the company is focused on advancing solutions that deliver measurable impact today while shaping a more sustainable future for flight. The campaign builds on advanced technology, real-world testing, and meaningful collaboration to better understand and reduce aviation's environmental impact. This achievement required months of preparation by Gulfstream's engineering and flight test teams, including modifying the G700 cabin to integrate in-flight emissions measurement instruments, and pilots training in simulators to execute complex formation profiles to capture near-field emissions and contrail evolution from behind.
Rich Moore, NASA Research Scientist, said that this collaboration enabled the first high-altitude 100% SAF emissions observations, providing real-world data that is critical for improving models and understanding aviation's broader environmental impact. Julie Marks, Executive Director of the FAA Office of Environment and Energy, also noted that the partnership with Gulfstream helps understand and quantify efforts to mitigate persistent contrail impacts, and the FAA will continue to assess how SAF can contribute to reducing persistent contrails.
This work builds on Gulfstream's leadership in sustainable aviation, including the industry's first transatlantic flight using SAF in 2011, and the industry's first 100% SAF-powered transatlantic flight in 2023. To date, Gulfstream aircraft have flown over 3.5 million nautical miles using SAF blended fuel.
