# Aviation propulsion: Overview

How a spinning fan turns kerosene into flight

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_aviation/overview/

What this tile covers Jet, turboprop and helicopter engines burning jet fuel or SAF. Share of use 3.5% share of final energy use (2019)

Share of world total final energy consumption (about 435 EJ, calculated: motor systems 13,462 TWh are 53% of electricity, so about 25,400 TWh or 91 EJ, and electricity is about 21% of final energy) that passes through this device or is used by this sector, latest year available. Electricity-based devices use electricity's 21% share of final energy (IEA WEO 2025). Overlaps between devices and sectors are allowed and noted. Aviation used 8.6% of final oil, and oil was 40.4% of final energy in 2019, about 3.5% (calculated). Cross-check: about 13.5 EJ of jet fuel against roughly 435 EJ is 3.1%. Overlaps gas turbines. Source: [Key World Energy Statistics 2021](https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/52f66a88-0b63-4ad2-94a5-29d36e864b82/KeyWorldEnergyStatistics2021.pdf), International Energy Agency.

#### Key facts

| **Chain** | Chemical (jet fuel) → heat → kinetic (thrust) |
|---|---|

#### Included from the reference tables

- Jet aircraft
- Turboprop and helicopter

#### Linked to the material world
[HVO Renewable diesel and SAF](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/)[Ni Nickel](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/nickel/)[Ti Titanium](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/titanium/)

#### Also in Transport systems
[ICV Combustion road vehicles](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_road_ice/)[EV Electric and hybrid vehicles](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_evs/)[Rail Rail traction](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rail_traction/)[Shp Ship propulsion](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_marine/)[Rkt Rockets and human power](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rockets/)

Explore paths from here
 More on this tile in the tabs above: science and limits, value chain, unit economics, engineering methods, equipment and suppliers.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_aviation/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_aviation/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_aviation/science/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_aviation/valuechain/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_aviation/economics/index.md)
- [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_aviation/methods/index.md)
- [Equipment and suppliers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_aviation/equipment/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_aviation/links/index.md)