Federal Departments To Allocate Millions In Biofuel R&D Funding.

The Flight International (2/5, Kuhn) reports, "The US Departments of Energy and Agriculture will allocate up to $25 million in research and development funding for biofuels, including aviation fuels, as well as bioenergy and bio-based products through the US Food, Conservation and Energy Act," more commonly known as the Farm Bill, "passed last year. The departments issued a joint funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for feedstocks development, biofuels and bio-based products development, and biofuels development analysis." The FOA "follows the first biofuel demonstration flight by a US carrier, Continental Airlines in January, as the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) plans for the certification of a 100% biofuel in 2013."

P&W Expects To Begin Testing More Advanced GTF Demonstrator By 2013.

Flight International (2/5, Kingsley-Jones) reports, "Pratt & Whitney aims to begin testing a demonstrator" geared turbofan (GTF) "engine within four years, incorporating new technologies designed to head off any threat from rival engine manufacturers in the battle to power the single-aisle replacements from Airbus and Boeing." Speaking "at an event in Toulouse to officially mark the end of the current GTF demonstrator's flight-test campaign on Airbus's A340-600 flying testbed, P&W vice-president next-generation product family Bob Saia" said "that the engine maker has identified its 'next step of technology features' and expects to begin testing advanced concepts on a demonstrator by 2013."

Note: P&W Geared Turbo Fan (GTF) engine has been proposed for, and is being developed for using alternative fuels such as biofuel and synthetics. It looks at this point it may be used on future 737, CRJ, and Airbus jets. -Cub