Rafale export sales have taken off again this year, starting in January when Greece placed an order for 18 of these Dassault Aviation fighters, making it the first export customer in Europe. In early May, Egypt announced the acquisition of 30 additional aircraft. Egypt was the first export customer, ordering 24 Rafales in 2015. Then in late May, Croatia announced an order for 12 Rafales. A total of 156 Rafales have been sold in export markets to date, more than the number deployed by French armed forces. And in late April, Safran Aircraft Engines celebrated the delivery of the 600th M88 engine for the Rafale.
On June 7 in Munich, an ADAC Luftrettung Airbus H145 helicopter flew for the first time using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The twin Arriel 2E engines from Safran Helicopter Engines used a biofuel from TotalEnergies, made from used cooking oil. This was a milestone on the road to decarbonized helicopter flight. ADAC Luftrettung and Safran Helicopter Engines kicked off operational tests this summer, with the goal of gradually increasing the proportion of SAF used by helicopter engines to 100%.
The Crystal Cabin Awards ceremony was held virtually in the spring of 2021. Usually held during the Aircraft Interiors trade show in Hamburg, these are the only international awards dedicated to aircraft cabins. The big winners were Safran Cabin,
with its Sophy connected trolley in the Cabin Systems category, Safran Passenger Innovations, with the RAVE screen in the In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity category, and Safran Seats, with its Modulair’ concept in the Passenger Comfort Hardware category.
Safran Seats teams in Gainesville, Texas and Issoudoun, France have celebrated the delivery of the last seats for an Emirates Airlines Airbus A380. Since Emirates started taking delivery of the superjumbo-jet in 2008, Safran has delivered 53,248 economy class seats and 9,078 business class seats for the Dubai-based carrier’s flagship.