Avfuel has signed an agreement with Textron Aviation to provide the Wichita airframer with a continuous supply of Neste sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as part of its sustainability initiatives. The SAF now will be routinely used for Textron's customer demonstration flights, as well as “fly away fuel” for new aircraft deliveries.

Textron received its first demonstration load of SAF at its headquarters in February, and this latest move makes it Avfuel’s first OEM customer to take the fuel on a regular basis. Each 7,800-gallon truckload of blended SAF will provide a 22-tonne reduction in carbon emissions over its lifecycle, equal to the amount of carbon sequestered by nearly 29 acres of U.S. forests per year.

“Avfuel’s collaboration with Textron Aviation is welcomed progress for business aviation’s sustainability initiative,” explained Keith Sawyer, the Michigan-based fuel provider’s manager of alternative fuels. “It’s not only an exceptional way for Textron Aviation to reduce its carbon emissions, it’s also an excellent way to introduce flight operators to the viability of sustainable aviation fuel.”

Last month Textron Aviation sister company Bell announced that it would begin the integration of SAF into its rotorcraft training and demonstration fleet.