In a significant milestone for sustainable aviation, Honda Aircraft Company has become the first manufacturer of twin-turbine very light business jets to successfully conduct a test flight of the HondaJet using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This achievement marks a pivotal step in the industry’s journey toward decarbonization.
The flight was performed by a production-model HondaJet, which utilized a 100% SAF blend composed of two types of fuel: Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (HEFA-SPK) and Hydrodeoxygenated Synthetic Aromatic Kerosene (HDO-SAK). The aircraft took off, flew over the Greensboro area, and landed successfully at the company’s world headquarters at Piedmont Triad International Airport. This successful demonstration is the result of extensive collaboration between the Honda Aircraft Company engineering team and GE Honda Aero, the joint venture between General Electric and Honda that designed the HondaJet’s HF120 turbofan engines.
This flight builds upon previous progress. HondaJet customers already use approved SAF blends of up to 50% in their aircraft. Furthermore, GE Honda Aero had already successfully completed ground tests of the HF120 engine on 100% SAF in 2022 and 2023, proving the engine’s compatibility and paving the way for this airborne test.
Company leadership hailed the accomplishment. Amod Kelkar, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, stated that this demonstration of 100% SAF capability is a direct reflection of Honda’s commitment to the future of aviation and a concrete step toward achieving Honda’s global goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The HondaJet’s efficiency is a key part of this sustainability profile; its unique design, which maintains laminar airflow, makes it the most efficient jet in its class, offering up to a 20% improvement in fuel economy. This recent success follows Honda Aircraft Company receiving the Sustainable Flight Department Accreditation from the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) in October 2024, further solidifying its environmental commitment.
