Research Could Further Biomass Conversion Into Jet Fuel.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (2/26, Content) reports, "Engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Thursday announced a discovery that advances the renewable-energy research aimed at converting corn stalks or switchgrass into jet fuel." Chemical and biological engineering professor James Dumesic, who co-founded a biofuels firm, said "the impetus for his work was prior research that found that the glucose [was] degrading into acids that weren't convertible into transportation fuels." However, Dumesic and fellow researchers "found they could convert those acids easily into GVL." However, "a key hurdle that remains is dealing with the high cost to produce GVL, which is now produced only in limited quantities."

Pratt & Whitney Ensuring GTF Can Power Twin-Aisle Narrowbody

Air Transport Intelligence News (3/1, Kirby) reported Pratt & Whitney is ensuring its "PurePower geared turbofan (GTF) engine can provide as much as 40,000lb of thrust." This GTF has "already been selected by Bombardier to power the 110/130-seat CSeries and by Mitsubishi to power the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ). The CSeries will be powered with the 20,000lb-24,000lb thrust class PurePower PW1000G." The GTF is generating interest from aircraft featuring "lightweight, twin-aisle narrowbody" designs.