Magdeburg (dpa/sa) – The red and white Magdeburg air rescue helicopter has been flying with sustainably produced aviation fuel (SAF) since this week. A spokeswoman for DRF Luftrettung said on Wednesday that the aim of the pilot project was to reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to more sustainability in aviation.
In Magdeburg, a mixture of conventional kerosene (65 percent) with the alternative fuel (35 percent) will initially be used. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has currently certified and approved bio-kerosene in a mixture of no more than 50 percent with conventional kerosene for aviation, the spokeswoman said.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is sustainably produced from non-fossil raw materials, used fats or forest waste. Due to the complex production of SAF, the alternative fuel is not yet available nationwide in Germany. “The costs are also many times higher than with conventional kerosene,” explained the spokeswoman for the air rescue service.
The DRF Luftrettung, based in Filderstadt, claims to be one of the largest air rescue organizations in Europe. The non-profit organization provides emergency rescue services at 29 stations in Germany and transfers critically ill or injured people between clinics.
