We have another thread on this lately called
Biofuel and You (anybody remember "Me and My RC"?
). This topic has been here quite a while though.
Continental Conducts Biofuel Demonstration Flight.
The AP (1/8) reports, "Continental Airlines on Wednesday became the first" US commercial carrier "to conduct a demonstration flight powered in part by alternative fuels." The flight "was a joint effort involving Continental, airplane maker Boeing Co., engine makers GE Aviation/CFM International and biofuel specialist UOP, a unit of Honeywell International Inc." Continental chairman and chief executive Larry Kellner "said the goal was to analyze technical aspects of using biofuels." Kellner "and others acknowledged it will likely be several years...before biofuels make up a significant percentage of the fuel used by Continental and other major carriers."
Bloomberg News (1/8, Efstathiou, Credeur) reports, "A fuel blend made from algae and jatropha scrub plants powered the unmodified twin-engine Boeing Co. 737-800" during the flight test, Continental said. David Messing, a Continental spokesman, added that the flight "went according to plan," and the "initial observations are that there's no difference in terms of the performance of the airplane." Bloomberg says the test represents "a step toward the International Air Transport Association's goal of having member carriers use 10 percent alternative fuels by 2017 to reduce global warming."
Air Transport Intelligence (1/8, Kuhn) reports, "Continental does not have plans to participate in a second trial and while other carriers have expressed interest, it is unlikely additional demonstrations will occur this year after a 30 January test by Japan Airlines. 'We're encouraging people to look at the data collected to see what's missing before [new trial] flights,'" Billy Glover, the Boeing managing director for environmental strategy, says, "adding he does not expect fuel-certifying organization ASTM International to request additional commercial aircraft alternative fuel demonstrations."
Scientific American (1/8, Biello), which also notes the Continental test, reports, "Boeing hopes to help...biofuels become a 'significant part of the commercial fuel supply by 2015,' Glover says." He adds, "Three years ago, we started out saying this doesn't look like it's possible. But every day we become more and more convinced it's not only possible, it has huge benefits for industry and the public."