Latin American executive aviation company Lider Aviacao has carried out the first general aviation flight in Brazil using SAF. The operations were carried out in Rio de Janeiro by one of its helicopters that serves the energy company Equinor, transporting professionals to offshore platforms.

SAF is a sustainable fuel that has reduced carbon emissions throughout its life cycle; emissions are around 80 per cent lower compared to traditional aviation kerosene. The aircraft, a Sikorsky S-92, was fuelled by Vibra, the only supplier of this fuel in Brazil, through BR Aviation, its business unit for aircraft fuelling and related activities.

The flight departed from Jacarepaguá airport and was fuelled with a blend composed of 10 per cent SAF and 90 per cent fossil Jet A, as authorised by ANP, the Brazilian national agency of petroleum, natural gas and biofuels, and certified by the fuel testing laboratory of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), which reinforces the safety and traceability of the process.

On the flight carried out, considering the blend and the emissions reduction potential of SAF, approximately nine per cent less CO2 was emitted.

“This flight represents a milestone in the trajectory of general aviation in the country. We are taking a concrete step towards a more sustainable operation that is committed to future generations. This is also a practice that is already well-established among our customers in the energy sector, who value solutions with a lower environmental impact, a value that is also ours at Lider,” highlights Diego Reis, general director of helicopter operations at Lider Aviacao.

The biofuel used was produced from used cooking oil. Reusing waste as a raw material for the production of biofuels transforms an environmental liability into a solution with a high positive impact on decarbonisation, representing a significant advance in terms of innovation and climate responsibility. SAF is a fuel technically called drop-in, and the mentioned blend can be used in current engines without the need for adaptation, allowing a gradual transition to a cleaner and more efficient aviation model. The fuel is stored at Galeao International airport, which has ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) certification for this type of storage.

More than just an unprecedented feat, the flight symbolises a concrete change in mindset within the Brazilian aviation sector. With this initiative, Lider Aviacao becomes the first executive aviation company to acquire SAF from Vibra and anticipates the mandatory use of sustainable fuel in a minimum proportion in air operations that will only come into effect in 2027. With 66 years of history, the company has achieved many pioneering milestones, and this is yet another example of its commitment to innovation.

“Vibra, a market leader in the aviation segment, could not fail to be the pioneering company in the commercialisation of SAF in Brazil. We were also the first to act with Book & Claim for this sustainable fuel. As protagonists in the energy transition, we also contribute in this way to the decarbonisation of this extremely important segment for the country's economy,” says Juliano Prado, executive vice president of B2B sales at Vibra.

For Lider Aviacao, SAF is one of the most promising tools on the path to decarbonisation, and its use is part of the company's broader sustainability plan, which also includes fuel consumption efficiency programmes, route standardisation, use of clean energy and active participation in forums and regulatory debates on the future of aviation.

“We are committed to leading this energy transition in aviation. The use of SAF is a concrete initiative that combines innovation with environmental responsibility, in addition to maintaining the company's high operational safety standards,” concludes Jorge Franaa, QMSSI director at Lider Aviacao.