Aviation Experts: Biofuel-Powered Flights Within A Decade.

The AP (3/18, Max) reports, "Within a decade, passenger planes will be flying on jet fuel largely made from plants...as airlines seek to break away from the volatile oil market and do their part to fight climate change, aviation experts said Wednesday." Attending the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels, the experts said that "the industry is focusing on fuels that cause minimal environmental destruction." Still, the AP adds that the "projected shift" among airlines to using plant-based jet fuel "has stoked concern among environmentalists that the possible insatiable appetite of airlines for plant oil will hasten the destruction of tropical forests and the conversion of cropland from food to fuel."

Albaugh: Boeing Will Limit Re-Engining "Requirements Creep" On 737.

Air Transport Intelligence (3/18, Ostrower) reported, "As it moves closer to a decision on re-engining the 737, Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Jim Albaugh says his company must resist the urge to modify the 737 too much." Albaugh said he would work to limit "requirements creep, so it doesn't become an equivalent of a major change to the aircraft." Meanwhile, the company "has begun wind tunnel tests on various designs for a re-engined 737, evaluating the aerodynamic characteristics of a larger engine, as well as a modified strut and pylon."

EADS Backs Algae Biofuels.

Aviation Week (3/19, Warwick) reported EADS believes algae to be the best source of sustainable jet fuel, stating other feedstocks will not allow the airline industry to reach its carbon-footprint reduction goals. EADS CTO Jean Botti stated he does not believe "second-generation, plant-derived biofuels now under development offer sufficient life-cycle, carbon-dioxide reductions to replace petroleum-based jet fuel," further adding, "We absolutely need to push third-generation biofuels made from algae." A 50/50 blend of jet fuel and plant-derived biofuel, also referred to as "hydrotreated renewable jet fuel" is expected to be approved for commercial airline use in 2010, but research into algae-fuels is less advanced.