MTU Maintenance's facility in Zhuhai, China, has introduced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) testing capabilities, carrying out its first test with launch customer China Southern Airlines.
A V2500 engine from International Aero Engines AG (IAE) was successfully tested with a 100% SAF blend following a full overhaul shop visit. The facility has procured an initial 30 tonnes of SAF from China National Aviation Fuel and will be offering testing as an additional service to all customers.
“MTU Maintenance Zhuhai is the first MRO shop in China to offer engine test runs with SAF,” says Gert Wagner, president and CEO of MTU Maintenance Zhuhai.
The SAF supplied by China national aviation fuel is derived from waste fats, oils, greases and has up to an 80% lifecycle greenhouse gas emission reduction per gallon as compared to the conventional jet fuel it replaces.
This development builds on MTU Maintenance's SAF testing capabilities introduced at its Hannover site in 2021, where a 100% SAF test was carried out on a V2500 engine in March 2024.