Certified as Child-Safe: Aviation Fuel with Sustainable credentials
In an exciting development, the Airbus Foundation has unveiled a new episode titled "Flying to a Sustainable Future" as part of their series, "The Future of the Skies." This episode aims to make scientific progress accessible to children aged 8 to 12, using simple examples from everyday life to explain complex concepts.
The episode includes four animated videos and two activities, all designed to engage young minds and foster a curiosity about science, the environment, and climate change. According to Rachel Schroeder, Managing Director of the Airbus Foundation, the goal is to inspire children's imagination and encourage them to consider careers in these fields.
One of the key topics covered in the episode is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), an alternative fuel for aircraft and helicopters that can significantly reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to conventional fossil fuel. The Airbus Foundation Discovery Space has a new exhibit dedicated to SAF, providing age-appropriate explanations for children.
SAF offers numerous benefits over conventional fuels. It can reduce lifecycle GHG emissions by over 70-90%, depending on the feedstock and production process used. Additionally, SAF combustion produces fewer sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (soot), improving air quality near airports and reducing acid rain and respiratory issues.
SAF is made from a variety of materials, including used cooking oil, agricultural residues and waste biomass, waste fats from the food industry, municipal solid waste, and even captured carbon. The primary current technology refining these materials into SAF is HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids).
The Airbus Foundation believes that children will be motivated to engage with science, the environment, and climate change after watching the episode "Flying to a Sustainable Future." Parents can use the content to engage with the topic after school or incorporate it into family leisure time, fostering conversations about careers in science and technology.
Moreover, the skies of tomorrow could have many more planes connecting the world without emitting harmful CO2, thanks to new propulsion methods and technologies, including SAF, which are in development. The Airbus Foundation Discovery Space program emphasizes the benefits of SAF over conventional fuels, giving science lessons a new boost for educators.
The series "Future of the Skies" is available in four languages: German, English, French, and Spanish, offering a global audience the opportunity to learn about SAF and its potential to revolutionize aviation. The animated videos from the series will be published gradually on the social media channels of Airbus Foundation Discovery Space, making them easily accessible for all.
With SAF, the aviation industry sees a crucial tool on the path toward net-zero aviation emissions by 2050. It is not just a complement to hydrogen as a solution for making aircraft and helicopters independent of fossil fuels, but a significant step towards a more sustainable future for aviation.
[1] Airbus (2020). Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Retrieved from https://www.airbus.com/innovation/en/topics/sustainable-aviation-fuel.html
[2] Boeing (2020). Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Retrieved from https://www.boeing.com/environment/sustainable-aviation-fuel/
[3] European Commission (2019). Sustainable Aviation Fuels. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/aviation/sustainable-aviation-fuels_en
[4] International Air Transport Association (2020). Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Retrieved from https://www.iata.org/en/topics/environment/sustainable-aviation-fuels/
[5] Sustainable Aviation (2020). SAF. Retrieved from https://sustainableaviation.org/saf/
- The new episode "Flying to a Sustainable Future" by Airbus Foundation discusses Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a key solution for reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions in aviation.
- SAF offers numerous environmental benefits, such as reducing lifecycle GHG emissions by over 70-90% and improving air quality near airports.
- Made from materials like used cooking oil and agricultural residues, SAF is a significant step towards a more sustainable future for aviation.
- The Airbus Foundation's Discovery Space has a new exhibit dedicated to SAF, providing accessible explanations for children about this innovative fuel.
- Through educational resources like "Future of the Skies" series, parents and educators can encourage children's interest in environmental science and sustainable living, promoting lifelong learning about careers in science and technology.
