P&W Begins GTF Core Testing.

Air Transport Intelligence News (12/21, Ranson) reported Pratt & Whitney have begun testing on its PurePower geared turbofan, which will power the Bombardier CSeries, Irkut MS-21, and Mitsubishi Regional Jet aircrafts. Pratt & Whitney Canada VP Dan Breitman stated ""This successful first run of the PurePower engine core marks a major step toward bringing an all-new, next generation engine to market." The company previously stated the engine should enter service by 2013.

AltAir Intends To Build Biofuel Plants in 2010.

The Wall Street Journal (12/23, B2B, Stein, subscription required)) reports AltAir Fuels LLC will look to sign up investors in 2010 to help build biofuel plants. AltAir may also apply for a loan from the US Department of Energy in order to build its plants that will utilize camelina plants to create biofuels. Because 14 airlines have already reached an agreement to use this fuel in their aircraft, AltAir CEO Tom Todaro notes this makes them different than previous biodiesel producers.

Toyota Affiliate Looks To Jatropha As Alternative Fuel.

Bloomberg News (12/30, Rial) reports Toyota Tsusho Corp, the trading affiliate of Toyota Motor Corp., will begin growing jatropha next year as the company sees the plant as a "profitable alternative fuel." Jatropha, a plant found in subtropical countries that "isn't edible and can grow in arid lands unsuitable for farming" has already been successfully used in a Boeing 747 flight last year, and with Toyota Tsusho's investment in Singapore-based seed researcher JOIL(S) Pte. and rising oil prices worldwide, project manager Makoto Hattori believes that by "dramatically increasing the plant's yield," it can make the plant economically viable. The company is currently in negotiations with a Philippine banana plantation to grow the plant.