ARC NEWS
​MAG signs SAF offtake deal with Petronas
May 30, 2023
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has signed an offtake agreement with Petronas Dagangan (PDB) to supply it more than 230,000t of neat SAF to MAG's airlines from 2027. The SAF will be produced at Petronas' co-processing plant in Melaka and will be supplied directly to Kuala Lumpur International airport, initially for flights operated by Malaysia Airlines, and subsequently Firefly and MASwings. The agreement follows the continuation of the partnership established between MAG and PDB in 2021, under which both parties explored potential collaborative opportunities to advance the sustainability agenda, including the supply and adoption of SAF at KLIA, it adds. Through this partnership, MAG has operated 19 domestic and international cargo and passenger flights powered by SAF through its group of aviation companies.


C919 completes first commercial flight
May 30, 2023
China Eastern Airlines has officially put the first Comac C919 into revenue service, successfully completing its inaugural flight between Shanghai Hongqiao and Beijing Capital airports. Flight MU9191 departed from Hongqiao airport at 10:33 CST on 28 May, and landed just under who hours later at Beijing Capital, before departing on a scheduled service at 14:54 and returning to Hongqiao. The aircraft is registered as B-919A (MSN 00007) and is configured with eight business and 156 economy class seats. It was delivered to China Eastern on 9 December 2022. China Eastern states that it will also deploy the aircraft on services between Shanghai Hongqiao and Chengdu before launching it on other domestic routes. The entry into revenue service of the C919 is a major milestone for Comac and the wider Chinese aerospace industry. The programme was first announced in 2007, and the type made its maiden flight in 2017, but it was not until 29 September 2022 that it was granted type certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Although the aircraft is manufactured in China, the C919 has a large amount of Western content – either acquired directly or through local joint ventures – including the CFM International Leap-1C engines, landing gear from Liebherr Aerospace, and flight control actuation systems from Parker Aerospace. Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) is developing an indigenous powerplant for the C919, the CJ-1000A, which has reportedly been conducting flight testing using a modified Xian Y-20 transport aircraft. Fleets data shows that Comac holds orders for 662 C919s, with options on a further 40 and letters of intent for 658 units from 31 customers – mostly Chinese leasing companies.


Kenya Airways trials SAF blend for Amsterdam flight
May 30, 2023
Kenya Airways used a blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for a Boeing 787-8 flight from Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International airport to Amsterdam Schiphol on 25 May. For the flight JetA1 fuel was mixed with Eni Biojet, produced in the Eni's Livorno refinery from distilled bio-components. The SAF contains 100% biogenic feedstock and is suitable for use with up to 50% JetA1 fuel. "The data and insights generated from the pilot flight will be valuable to inform policy decisions, regulatory frameworks, and industry best practices related to SAF. This will be a significant milestone for Kenya Airways and the broader African aviation industry,” says Kenya Airways chief executive Allan Kilavuka. Eni and Kenya Airways are working on a broader agreement for long-term collaboration, while the petroleum company is developing a supply chain of used cooking oil in Kenya as a feedstock for future biofuels production.


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