Antwerp Airport and Styl Aviation launch Benelux's first flight using Swift 100R fuel
Antwerp Airport hosts Benelux's first flight using Swift 100R, a sustainable, unleaded aviation fuel alternative to Avgas 100LL.
On Thursday, May 22, the first flight in the Benelux with Swift 100R, a new unleaded aircraft fuel recently approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for specific aircraft and engines, took place at Antwerp Airport. The flight was conducted in collaboration with Styl Aviation, EuroPilot Center, Check Six, and Antwerp Airport.
Swift 100R is the result of years of research by the American company Swift Fuels and was developed as a lead-free alternative to Avgas 100LL – a light leaded fuel still widely used in General Aviation today. Many general aviation aircraft currently use aviation gasoline (Avgas), a highly refined gasoline with a high octane rating necessary for high-performance engines. Larger aircraft such as airliners, turboprops, and business jets, however, operate on Jet A-1, a type of kerosene.
At Antwerp Airport, the use of Avgas 100LL is limited to a maximum of 1,000 movements per year. In pursuit of a more sustainable fuel supply, Antwerp Airport and fuel supplier BP will transition to UL91, an unleaded variant, from early June. Not all aircraft are compatible with UL91, making Swift 100R a potentially significant alternative in the future.
Swift 100R offers performance comparable to Avgas 100LL but without lead and consists of 10% renewable sources such as used oils, biomass, and animal fats. The fuel is currently certified for several aircraft types including the Cessna 172S and 172R. EuroPilot Center becomes the first flight training center in the Benelux to equip its aircraft with this fuel.
Eric Dumas, CEO of Antwerp Airport, said: 'As a regional airport, Antwerp Airport is committed to innovation and sustainable development within aviation. Moreover, we are a key pilot training hub in Belgium. The decision of EuroPilot Center, based at our airport, to be the first in the Benelux to transition to this new, more sustainable fuel is highly meaningful. This flight demonstrates that the transition to more sustainable aviation technologies is feasible with the right collaboration between government, producers, and users. We are proud to take this important step in General Aviation toether with our partners.'
Sven Schepers, Managing Director of Check Six, commented: 'The aviation sector has been actively developing future replacements for Avgas 100LL for some time. Aviation remains one of the safest modes of transportation precisely because all technologies, including fuels, undergo rigorous testing. Today's flight is significant as it marks the first flight in the Benelux using this recently approved fuel.'
'Styl Aviation, in collaboration with Check Six and Swift Fuels, is working to expedite the certification of Swift 100R for more aircraft types and engines. This partnership is crucial in further enabling the transition to sustainable fuels within General Aviation.' says Michael De Vestel & Pierre Hoebeke, Styl Aviation Management.
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