Synthetic jet fuel used on South African flight

A new test could open the way for flights to South Africa to be made on aircraft using synthetic jet fuel.Sasol has been working on the fuel for the past 15 years and now claims to have successfully completed a passenger flight with a plane powered solely by the special liquid, reports Xinhua.

It is understood that a Boeing 737 flew from Johannesburg to Cape Town for two hours on the fuel and it is the first time such a flight has been made with the full backing of the aviation authorities.

“The approval by international aviation fuel authorities of this product recognises the need to develop aviation fuel from feedstock other than crude oil in order to meet the world’s growing needs,” explained Sasol chief executive officer Pat Davies.

He added that the fuel is very clean-burning and produces significantly less carbon emissions when compared with standard aviation jet fuel.

Sasol was originally formed in 1950 to make oil from coal as South Africa has limited crude oil reserves.

Written by Erin Marshall.