In partnership with its branded fuel supplier Avfuel Corporation, Telluride Regional airport has become the first FBO in Colorado to make sustainable aviation fuel available to its customers.

The FBO received its first demonstrative delivery of SAF from Avfuel on 27 February, with two following in March. Telluride has since begun to receive regular deliveries of Neste MY SAF, Neste's branded SAF supply from Avfuel. The first load arrived on 15 April; each truckload of Avfuel's Neste MY SAF provides a 22 metric ton reduction in carbon emissions over its lifecycle, which is equivalent to the amount of carbon sequestered by 28.7 acres of US forests per year. SAF is the most effective way to reduce a flight's carbon footprint and, in the future, it could deliver up to 80 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions versus traditional jet fuel if used in its neat form.

With the arrangement, Telluride Regional can now consistently provide SAF for all jet and turbine aircraft that fly in to the airport in order to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainability goals.

“Our community desires to do its part in reducing carbon emissions,” says Kenneth Maenpa, Telluride's airport manager. “As such, we are proud to be the first airport in Colorado to provide sustainable aviation fuel. Avfuel has worked diligently on the logistics for delivering SAF to Telluride Regional Airport, and we're excited to announce this significant milestone that's been three years in the making.”

Avfuel manager of alternative fuels Keith Sawyer adds: “We are thankful for the true partnership we have with the Telluride Regional airport team, working together to provide cleaner solutions in one of the world's most stunning natural environments. We congratulate the airport on being the first to provide SAF in the state of Colorado, which not only provides significant emissions reductions, but also raises awareness on the environmental benefits and safety of the product.”

Neste MY SAF is made from sustainably sourced, renewable waste and residue materials, such as used cooking oil. It is a fully-approved drop-in fuel that, once blended with petroleum jet fuel, meets ASTM D-1655 specification for conventional jet fuel and performance standards under all operating conditions. This makes Neste MY SAF an optimum solution to directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft, requiring no new investments, modifications or changes to the aircraft, fuel distribution procedures or airport fuel storage tanks.