Pertamina Use SAF For Helicopter Coinciding With Bali International Airshow 2024

The inaugural charging and demonstration of SGI helicopter flights at the Bali International Air Show 2024. (Doc. Pertamina)

PT Pertamina Patra Niaga started using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on helicopters to coincide with the Bali International Airshow 2024 event at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

In this case, Pertamina in collaboration with Garuda Indah Wings (SGI) and Bell Textron Inc., the Bell 407 helicopter became the first in Indonesia as a helicopter using SAF, marking an important moment in supporting decarbonization in the aviation sector.

In the inaugural charging and demonstration of SGI helicopter flights at the Bali International Air Show 2024, President Director of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, Riva Siahaan said that Pertamina SAF's distribution commitment is a key component of the wider sustainability goal, so that more and more use of SAF in the flight fleet has contributed to achieving lower carbon footprint in the aviation sector.

"If last year Pertamina SAF has succeeded through a flight test on a commercial aircraft of the Boeing 737-800 NG type, currently SGI has officially adopted Pertamina SAF for the Bell 407 helicopter and is the first helicopter to use SAF in Indonesia to reduce carbon emissions and support global efforts to fight climate change," Riva explained, quoted on Saturday, September 21.

Riva added that the moment of distribution of SAF at Ngurah Rai Airport marks that Indonesia can adapt to the demands of the energy mix in the international aviation industry, where currently SAF is a medium-term solution for flights to reduce carbon footprint, without requiring changes to aircraft, airport infrastructure, or jet fuel supply chains.

Pertamina SAF, said Riva, has met various international standards, including the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) certification for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and Renewable Energy Directive-European Union (RED-EU) programs.

Pertamina also ensures that SAF is safe to use, meets the standards set by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) and is registered as Corsia Eligible Fuel (CEF) by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).