Honeywell begins using SAF to test aircraft auxiliary-power units, propulsion engines

Photo: Honeywell

Honeywell recently received its first delivery of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Phoenix Engines campus, the company announced Jan. 30.

The fuel will support development and production testing of auxiliary-power units (APUs) and propulsion engines at the site, along with testing of fielded units from Honeywell’s repair and overhaul facility.

Developed by World Energy LLC in California using Honeywell’s UOP Ecofining™ technology and distributed by World Fuel Services, the SAF is produced by converting readily available renewable materials such as hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA).

SAF can be combined with conventional jet fuel to power aircraft in blends of up to 50 percent with petroleum-based jet fuel.

Blended SAF requires no changes to engine- or aircraft-fuel systems or fuel infrastructure.

Honeywell also has plans to test other SAF blends and to run engines and APUs on 100 percent SAF in the future.

“At Honeywell, we see SAF as a logical path to decarbonize the aviation industry and we consider our facilities as laboratories for sustainable innovation,” said Dave Marinick, president of Honeywell Aerospace’s engines and power-systems division. “Honeywell has a wide variety of ready-now solutions to help create a more sustainable future for the aviation sector, and we are proud to make this progress on our sustainability commitments in our propulsion and power-systems portfolio. Running our engines and APUs on SAF is a further demonstration of our commitment to our customers to do our part to reduce our carbon footprint.”

Honeywell’s first APU took to the skies in 1950, and the company has built more than 100,000 since then.

More than 36,000 APUs, including both fixed- and rotary-wing, are in service today across more than 150 regional, executive, commercial and military applications.

Honeywell engines have been at the forefront of aircraft propulsion since 1953.

Honeywell’s propulsion engines, like the HTF7000 with more than 1.7 million flight hours, focus on safety, performance and reliability, offering business-jet operators enhanced performance and fuel efficiency at a lower cost of ownership.

Honeywell is committed to achieving carbon neutrality in its operations and facilities by 2035.

About 60 percent of Honeywell’s new product introduction R&D investment is directed toward products that improve environmental and social outcomes for customers.