​Aircraft-completion facility in Arkansas leverages SAF to reduce carbon footprint of operations

Photo: Dassault Aviation

Dassault Aviation recently announced that all customer acceptance and departure flights from its completion facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, will use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The use of SAF at this site is part of the SAF plan implemented by Dassault to reduce the carbon footprint of its aviation operations.

Under this plan, all flights operated by company-owned Falcon aircraft, whether for business, transport or Falcon support, are using SAF blends.

SAF offers carbon emission reductions of 80 percent to 90 percent compared to conventional jet fuel when used in its concentrated form.

All Falcon aircraft are certified to use up to 50 percent SAF blends.

The new Falcon 10X ultra long-range twin will be compatible with 100 percent SAF from entry into service.

Although the business-aviation industry accounts for just a tiny proportion (0.04 percent) of worldwide CO2 emissions, it is helping lead the way in decarbonization, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.

SAF is currently the most promising contribution to meet this target.

The Little Rock plant is supplied with SAF by Avfuel Corp. and Neste Corp., a leading fuel supplier and SAF producer, respectively, in the industry.

Dassault Aviation is a leading aerospace company with a presence in more than 90 countries across six continents.

Dassault designs and builds the family of Falcon business jets as well as the Rafale fighter jet.

The company employs a workforce of over 12,000 and has production facilities in both France and the United States, and a worldwide service network.