Virgin Atlantic Makes First Transatlantic Flight Using Sustainable Jet Fuel

Virgin Atlantic has made the first transatlantic flight of a commercial passenger jet powered entirely by “sustainable” fuel.

Flight100 took off from London Heathrow and made its way across the Atlantic to New York’s JFK airport on a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mixture of mostly “waste fats,” as well as plant sugars, oil, proteins and fibers, a press release from Virgin Atlantic said.

“Flight100 proves that Sustainable Aviation Fuel can be used as a safe, drop-in replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel and it’s the only viable solution for decarbonising long haul aviation. It’s taken radical collaboration to get here and we’re proud to have reached this important milestone, but we need to push further,” said Shai Weiss, chief executive officer of Virgin Atlantic, in the press release.

“There’s simply not enough SAF and it’s clear that in order to reach production at scale, we need to see significantly more investment,” Weiss said. “This will only happen when regulatory certainty and price support mechanisms, backed by Government, are in place.”

One of the benefits of SAF over other potential alternative fuels is that it’s currently available, though its volume is less than 0.1 percent of the total amount of jet fuel worldwide.

“While other technologies such as electric and hydrogen remain decades away, SAF can be used now,” the press release said. “Flight100 will prove that the challenge of scaling up production is one of policy and investment.”

The Virgin Atlantic flight was made in a Boeing 787 powered by Rolls-Royce engines. |Read more https://www.ecowatch.com/sustainable-jet-fuel-virgin-atlantic.html | ecowatch.com/sustainable-jet-f…

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988 suicide crisis helpline launches across Canada

Similar to 911, 3 digits will connect people to suicide prevention services quickly

Canada’s 988 hotline, which gives people access to suicide prevention services via call or text, went live on Thursday.

People in every province and territory who are experiencing a mental health crisis and need immediate, real-time support can use the three-digit number.

Similar to 911 for accessing fire, police and medical emergencies, 988: Suicide Crisis Helpline is a short, easy-to-remember number to get a quick response from coast to coast to coast, 24/7 and free of charge.

Dr. Allison Crawford, chief medical officer for the line, is co-ordinating the service. She is also a psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the country’s largest teaching hospital for mental health based in Toronto.

Crawford said the goal of 988 is to prevent suicide.

What is 988?

Calls and texts to 988 are directed to a network of partners in communities across the country offering suicide prevention services such as counselling.

The 988 service is federally funded and available in English and French to all.
Why is it needed?

According to Statistics Canada, 4,500 people in this country die by suicide every year — equivalent to 12 people taking their own lives every day. For every death by suicide, at least seven to 10 people either attempted suicide or grieved the loss of someone who took their own life.

Tanya Joy suffered both. Joy of Paradise, N.L., started advocating for suicide prevention services in 2019 after her brother, Jody, died by suicide. Joy, 48, attempted to take her own life in 2007.

“I’m here, I lived,” she said. “I was fortunate enough to feel safe to call somebody, and I know that that’s why I’m here, because this person intervened.” |Read more https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/988-hotline-mental-health-canada-1.7043603 | cbc.ca/news/health/988-hotline…

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