Construction About To Begin On Air Force Plant To Make Alternative Fuels.

The AP (11/11) reports, "Construction is starting on a new $2.5 million facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base that will allow the military to create its own fuel for research aimed at producing alternatives for powering military aircraft." The plant is expected to make "15 to 25 gallons of fuel a day from coal and biomass materials rather than waiting for industry to supply alternative fuels for Air Force testing." According to officials, this will "dramatically enhance the Air Force's current fuels research capabilities."

Pratt & Whitney To Conduct Full-Scale PurePower By End Of Year.

Aviation Week (11/14, Morris) reported, "Trials of the first brand-new engine core for Pratt & Whitney's full-scale PurePower PW1000G geared turbofan will begin by the end of the year, following delivery of hardware to the testing facility in Canada." This is a "significant step" towards full engine runs next summer. The company "expects the first PurePower geared fan engines to reduce fuel burn by around 15%, cut noise to half of today's levels...and greatly reduce operating costs...says Bob Saia, P&W vp for the next generation product family." Its "ultimate goal is to power the next generation replacements for the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families."

KLM Flies Boeing 747 With Biofuel Mix.

The AP (11/24) reports, "An airliner using a 50% biofuel mix in one engine has successfully completed a demonstration flight in the Netherlands." Air France-KLM used the mix on a Boeing 747 with 40 passengers. The fuel was derived from the camelina plant. "KLM spokeswoman Monique Matze said the airline plans eventually plans commercial flights using a biofuel mix, but it is too early to set a target date."

ICAO Developing Website To Help Develop Alternate Jet Fuels.

Air Transport Intelligence (11/23, Kuhn) reported, "ICAO will create a web document to help advance efforts to develop and commercialize alternative jet fuels." The web tool will "enable member states and the aviation industry to share information, best practices and future initiatives aimed at developing and implementing the use of alternative aviation fuels." This follows the adoption of the Global Framework on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (GFAAF) during a recent ICAO conference. "Conference attendees recommended that ICAO organize a meeting to consider the cost and financing of infrastructure projects dedicated to aviation alternative fuels as well as incentives to overcome initial market hurdles."