Aerocivil, Ecopetrol team up to promote SAF in Colombia

Colombian’ civil aviation regulator Civil Aeronautics announced partnership agreement with Ecopetrol laying the foundation to develop SAF Vuela programme aimed at promotion, research and development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the South American country.

“The signing of this memorandum of understanding is a sign of the Colombian State’s commitment to modern, environmentally responsible aviation that is connected to global challenges. SAF Vuela represents a first step towards cleaner aviation and committed to the operational safety that characterises us,” said Brigadier General (R. A.) Jose Henry Pinto Rodriguez, director general of Civil Aeronautics.

The agreement will last for three years with the goal to unite technical, operational, regulatory, commercial and environmental efforts.

This memorandum is aligned with Colombia’s National Development Plan 2022-2026, which establishes as a priority the promotion of SAF to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in transport, as well as with the strategic objectives of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in terms of sustainability.

“The SAF Vuela programme represents a fundamental advance in the roadmap of SAFs, on which Ecopetrol has been working committedly. As a company, we expect to continue promoting the energy transition for the country, in a sustainable and responsible way,” said Ricardo Roa Barragan, president of Ecopetrol.

The programme will have the active participation of interdisciplinary teams from the two entities, which will meet periodically to advance in the execution of the roadmap.