The Anonymous Widower

Germany ‘A Laughing Stock’ After Minister’s Plane Grounded

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.

This is the first paragraph.

Faulty wing flaps on an ageing Airbus have left officials red-faced after Germany’s foreign minister was forced to abandon the plane en route to Australasia.

Germany’s foreign minister is Annalena Baerbock, who is a Green Party politician.

A lot of the comments are asking, what was a Green Party politician doing flying all the way to Australia in a fuel-hungry four-engine Airbus A 340.

The article got me thinking.

Consider.

• Government ministers, diplomats and some business people, will always need to fly around the world for some important face-to-face meetings.
• Perhaps, this won’t happen as much as it did in the past with the development of better communications technology, but there will always be a need in some cases.
• There are over 20,000 business jets in service.
• Most business jets could be run on sustainable aviation fuel.
• Some business jets have a very long-rage.

I can see one of the manufacturers developing sustainable business aircraft to fit various segments.

Lightweight Zero-Carbon Business Aircraft

Aircraft like the Eviation Alice will dominate this field.

• The aircraft is battery-powered.
• It can carry nine passengers.
• It has a range of 440 nautical miles.
• It can operate as either a feeder airliner, business aircraft or small parcel carrier.
• It is planned to be in service in 2027.

The Alice already has a substantial order book.

There are several other aircraft in this segment under development.

Lightweight Hybrid-Electric Business Aircraft

Aircraft like the Faradair BEHA are under development.

• The aircraft is powered by a Honeywell turbo generator running on sustainable aviation fuel.
• It can carry eighteen passengers.
• It has a range of around a thousand miles.
• It is being developed at Duxford Airfield.
• The aircraft has a radical quick-change interior.
• Operational trials are planned to start in 2026.

Like the Alice the Faradair BEHA is different.

Lightweight Business Aircraft Running On Sustainable Aviation Fuel

I can see several of the smaller business aircraft being certified for sustainable aviation fuel.

Cessna sold 8,000 of their Citation jets in 2022 and have delivered around 7,500 according to Wikipedia.

Cessna won’t be giving up that market without a fight.

Certifying the aircraft to run on sustainable aviation fuel would be the interim solution until a hydrogen-powered business aircraft becomes available as it surely will.

The biggest problem will be to make enough sustainable aviation fuel.

Long-Range Business Aircraft Running On Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Long-range business jets like the Gulfstream G800 are true intercontinental transport.

• They can carry nineteen passengers and sleep ten.
• Range is 8,000 nautical miles.
• The jets are powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines.
• This press release from Rolls-Royce is entitled Rolls-Royce Conducts First Tests Of 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel For Use In Business Jets.

I think it is right to assume that long-range business jets like the Gulfstream G800 will be able to fly intercontinental routes on a net-zero basis.

An Airbus A321 XLR Running On Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Airbus and to a certain extent Boeing are the elephants in the room.

Airbus have launched an A321 XLR for long routes.

• The aircraft can carry over 200 passengers.
• It can fly up to 5,400 miles.
• It is selling well.
• Air Canada are thinking of using the plane on transatlantic routes.

The engines are from either CFM or Pratt & Whitney and I would be very surprised if the aircraft couldn’t run on sustainable aviation fuel.

Conclusion

I can see a new pattern of flying developing.

To return to the case of Germany’s foreign minister, I could see her going to Australia in a long-range business jet like the Gulfstream G800 running on sustainable aviation fuel.

• She might take a flight from Berlin or perhaps a more convenient airport with a rail connection.
• The plane would refuel in the Middle East and possibly Singapore.

It would be interesting to see how her green supporters reacted.

I can also see Airbus A321 XLRs running on sustainable aviation fuel across the Atlantic, being marketed as the net-zero way to the USA.

After all, Lumo market themselves as the net-zero way to Scotland against the airlines.

August 17, 2023 Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Airbus, Airbus A 321 XLR, Airbus A 340, Boeing, Business Aircraft, Decarbonisation, Eviation Alice, Faradair BEHA, Rolls-Royce, Sustainable Aviation Fuel | 8 Comments