A Gulfstream G600 business jet crossed the Atlantic Ocean burning nothing but sustainable aviation fuel — no conventional jet fuel mixed in, no fossil-fuel blend, just SAF from takeoff to touchdown. The flight, completed November 19, 2023 C.E., covered the route from Savannah, Georgia, to Farnborough, England, in six hours and 56 minutes, marking the first time any aircraft had made a transatlantic crossing on 100% SAF.
At a glance
- Sustainable aviation fuel: SAF can reduce net carbon emissions by up to 70% compared to conventional jet fuel, and also cuts sulfur emissions that contribute to air quality problems near airports.
- SAF feedstocks: The fuel can be produced from a wide range of non-fossil sources — including algae, animal fats, farm and forestry residues, municipal waste, and energy crops — reducing dependence on petroleum at every stage.
- Transatlantic flight data: Gulfstream plans to submit flight data to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to support regulatory approval for 100% SAF use across general aviation, not just as a blend.
Why this flight matters
Aviation accounts for roughly 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions — a share that rises when non-CO₂ warming effects like contrails are included. The sector faces enormous pressure to decarbonize before 2050 C.E., and SAF is widely seen as the most practical near-term path for long-haul flight, where battery-electric and hydrogen solutions remain years away from commercial readiness.
Until now, SAF has mostly been used as a blend — typically 10% to 50% mixed with conventional jet fuel. Regulatory frameworks in the United States and much of the world have not yet certified 100% SAF for routine commercial or general aviation use. This flight was designed, in part, to generate the operational data needed to change that.
The Gulfstream G600 was powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW815GA engines, which were not modified for the flight. That detail matters: it suggests 100% SAF could be used in existing aircraft without costly retrofits, which would dramatically lower the barrier to wider adoption.
The race to clean up the skies
Gulfstream was not alone in pursuing this milestone. Virgin Atlantic’s Flight100 initiative and engine-maker Rolls-Royce had both been working toward similar goals. The competitive pressure helped accelerate the timeline — a reminder that industry rivalry, when pointed at the right target, can produce real environmental progress.
The flight data collected on November 19, 2023 C.E., will now serve two purposes: building the regulatory case for 100% SAF certification, and refining the fuel itself. One area of focus is cold-temperature performance. At cruising altitude, temperatures can drop below -50°C, and ensuring SAF remains stable and efficient under those conditions is essential for long-haul and polar routes.
“One of the keys to reaching business aviation’s long-term decarbonization goals is the broad use of SAF in place of fossil-based jet fuel,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream, in a statement. “The completion of this world-class flight helps to advance business aviation’s overarching sustainability mission.”
What still needs to happen
A single historic flight does not decarbonize an industry. SAF currently makes up less than 1% of global jet fuel consumption, held back by high production costs, limited supply infrastructure, and the absence of universal regulatory approval for 100% use. The International Air Transport Association estimates that SAF could supply 65% of the carbon reduction needed to reach net-zero aviation by 2050 C.E. — but that requires a roughly 100-fold increase in production capacity.
Scaling up SAF will also require careful attention to feedstock sourcing. Not all SAF inputs are equal: fuels derived from waste and residues carry a much smaller land-use footprint than those grown as dedicated energy crops, and getting that balance right matters for both climate and food security. The International Civil Aviation Organization’s CORSIA framework sets sustainability criteria for SAF, but enforcement and verification across global supply chains remain works in progress.
Still, a 100% SAF transatlantic crossing was, until very recently, considered a future aspiration. It has now happened. The next step is making it routine.
Read more
For more on this story, see: New Atlas
For more from Good News for Humankind, see:
- Alzheimer’s risk cut in half by drug in landmark prevention trial
- Renewables now make up at least 49% of global power capacity
- The Good News for Humankind archive on clean energy
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