This workhorse helicopter seems to be capable of almost anything: S-92s transport oil workers to offshore rigs, assist in border enforcement, and will soon transport the American president aboard Marine One. Even a booster rocket falling from space was caught in the air by an S-92 in 2021.

Two CT7-8A turboshaft engines from GE Aerospace, one of a class of engines that have accumulated more than 100 million flight hours since its introduction in the late 1970s, are powering this versatile helicopter.

As part of their maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) at ITP Aero, a Spanish company that also services CT7 engines for Leonardo’s AW189/AW149 and the S-92, CT7 engines will now operate on a mixture of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and conventional jet fuel. The recently announced effort intends to further integrate SAF into commercial aircraft operations while reducing CO2 emissions at ITP’s site.

When it comes to CT7 engine maintenance, GE Aerospace and ITP Aero are taking the initiative to employ a SAF blend as they both work towards a lower-carbon future in which there may be an energy transition for helicopters and aeroplanes. SAF can be produced from a range of materials, including biomass, algae, fats, greases, and even collected CO2 and hydrogen. A standard for 100% SAF is currently being developed, however all CT7 engines, a development of the T700, can now run on a mixture of up to 50% SAF and normal aviation fuel.

One of the CT7’s selling points has always been its ease of maintenance. A CT7 that requires maintenance is taken to a specialised facility, like the ITP Aero facility in Albacete, Spain, which was first settled by Moors on the banks of the Don Juan River in La Mancha. Any engine that is put back into operation must undergo testing and qualification procedures.

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