Airbus and major Canadian aerospace academic and research organisations have launched a project to measure non-CO2 emissions produced from different jet fuels, including 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
‘Project Crystal’ — contrail research yielding stimulating advanced RQL learning — includes a ground and flight test campaign at Airbus Mirabel site in Canada, the A220 programme headquarters.
Both ground and flight tests will be operating on Jet A-1 and 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to study the effects on emissions and contrail properties and the associated climate impacts. The data generated will be used by the scientific community to improve contrail models and identify engine technology and fuels that could minimise the climate impact from contrails.
The ground tests are planned to happen as of the third quarter of this year.