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'{{TOCright}} '''Aviation biofuel''' is a [[biofuel]] used for [[aircraft]]. Aviation's share of the greenhouse gas emissions is poised to grow, as air travel increases and ground vehicles use more alternative fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. Boeing estimates that biofuels could reduce flight-related greenhouse-gas emissions by 60 to 80 percent. The solution would be blending algae fuels with existing jet fuel.<ref name="boe_energy">{{cite web|author=Ángel González|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/boeingaerospace/2003858756_boeingenergy30.html|title=To go green in jet fuel, Boeing looks at algae|work=The Seattle Times|date=2007-08-30|accessdate=2009-01-27}}</ref> [[Boeing]] executives said the company is informally collaborating with leading Brazilian biofuels maker [[Tecbio]], [[Aquaflow Bionomic]] of New Zealand and other fuel developers around the world. So far, Boeing has tested six fuels from these companies, and will probably have gone through 20 fuels "by the time we're done evaluating them."<ref name="boe_energy"/> Boeing is joining other aviation-related members in the [[Algal Biomass Organization]] (ABO).<ref>[http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/06/first-airlines.html First Airlines and UOP Join Algal Biomass Organization], Green Car Congress, 19 June 2008.</ref> The [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA) supports research, development and deployment of algal fuels. IATA’s goal is for its members to be using 10% alternative fuels by 2017.<ref>[http://www.iata.org/pressroom/facts_figures/fact_sheets/Pages/alt_fuels.aspx International Air Transport Association] - 'Fact Sheet: Alternative Fuels''</ref> ==Rationale== Two per cent of [[greenhouse gas]] emissions due to human activity are from the aviation industry. With an increasing focus on reducing [[fossil fuel]] use to minimise [[climate change]] aircraft manufacturers are investigating the use of biofuels to power the aircraft. Biofuels are seen as the only hope for economic survival of the aviation industry as a means of achieving [[sustainability]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviation.com/technology/080626-biofuel-is-aviation-focus.html|title=Biofuels Become Aviation's Big Focus|last=Kjelgaard|first=Chris|date=2008-06-26|publisher=Aviation|accessdate=2009-09-20}}</ref> ==Trials== In the effort to develop an aviation biofuel, [[Air New Zealand]] and Boeing are researching the [[jatropha]] plant to see if it is a sustainable alternative to conventional fuel.<ref>[http://www.carbonpositive.net/viewarticle.aspx?articleID=1114 Air NZ sees biofuel salvation in jatropha].</ref> A two-hour test flight using a 50-50 mixture of the new biofuel with [[Jet fuel|Jet A-1]] in the number one position Rolls Royce RB-211 engine of 747-400 ZK-NBS, was successfully completed on 30 December 2008. The engine was then removed to be scrutinised and studied to identify any differences between the Jatropha blend and regular Jet A1. No effects to performances were found. On January 8, 2009, [[Continental Airlines]] ran the first test for the first flight of an algae-fueled jet. The test was done using a twin-engine commercial jet with one engine consuming a 50/50 blend of biofuel and normal aircraft fuel. It was the first flight by a U.S. carrier to use an alternative fuel source on this specific type of aircraft. The flight from Houston's [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]] completed a circuit over the Gulf of Mexico. The pilots on-board, executed a series of tests at {{convert|38000|ft}}, including a mid-flight engine shutdown. [[Larry Kellner]], chief executive of Continental Airlines, said they had tested a drop-in fuel which meant that no modification to the engine was required. The fuel was praised for having a low flash point and sufficiently low freezing point, issues that have been problematic for other bio-fuels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2009/01/08/continental-airlines-tests-aviation-biofuel-first-use-of-algae-first-us-biofuel-test-flight-first-two-engine-flight/|title=Continental Airlines tests aviation biofuel; first use of algae; first US biofuel test flight; first two-engine flight|last=Lane|first=Jim|date=2009-01-08|publisher=Biofuels Digest|accessdate=2009-09-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | title =First flight of algae-fuelled jet | publisher=[[BBC]] | date=2009-01-08 | accessdate=2009-01-09}}</ref> [[Japan Airlines]] conducted a one and a half hour flight with one engine burning a 50/50 mix of [[Jet-A]] and biofuel from the ''[[Camelina]]'' plant.<ref>http://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/200901/001108.html</ref> The United States Navy is planning to use biofuel from the ''Camelina'' plant for their F/A-18 testing.<ref>http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=47405</ref> On March 25, 2010, the United States Air Force conducted the first flight of an aircraft with all engines powered by a biofuel blend. The flight, performed on an [[A-10]] at Eglin Air Force Base, used a 50/50 blend of [[JP-8]] and [[Camelina]]-based fuel.<ref>http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123197415</ref> The world’s first public flight of an aircraft with an engine powered solely by algae-derived biofuel occurred at an [[air show]] in [[Berlin]] in June 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?topicName=ila_2010&id=news/awx/2010/06/07/awx_06_07_2010_p0-232525.xml&headline=EADS%20Sets%20First%20Public%20Algae-Biofuel%20Flight%20At%20ILA%20Berlin|title=EADS Sets First Public Algae-Biofuel Flight At ILA Berlin|last=Morris|first=John|date=2010-06-07|publisher=Aviation Week|accessdate=2010-07-12}}</ref> ==See also== *[[Aviation and the environment]] *[[Environmental effects of biodiesel]] http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=52768 ==Further reading== *{{cite web|url=http://www-org.airbus.com/store/mm_repository/pdf/att00014178/media_object_file_BeginnersGuide_Biofuels.pdf|title=Beginner’s Guide to Aviation Biofuels|date=May 2009|publisher=Air Transport Action Group|accessdate=2009-09-20}} ==External links== *[http://www.airbus.com/en/corporate/ethics/environment/alternative-fuels/ Airbus] - ''Alternative fuels'' *[http://boeing.com/aboutus/environment/environmental_report_09/alternative-energy-solutions.html Boeing] - 2009 Environmental report ''Alternative Energy Solutions'' *[http://www.iata.org/pressroom/facts_figures/fact_sheets/alt_fuels.htm International Air Transport Association] - ''Fact Sheet: Alternative Fuels'' *[http://www.enviro.aero/Biofuels.aspx www.enviro.aero (Air Transport Action Group)] - ''Sustainable biofuels'' *[http://www.experimentalaircraft.info/homebuilt-aircraft/aviation-biofuel.php Aviation Biofuel] - ''Aviation Biofuel and their sources'' * [[Appropedia:Air_travel,_climate_change,_and_green_consumerism|Air travel, climate change, and green consumerism]] [[Category:Aviation and the environment]] [[Category:Biofuels]] [[Category:Aviation fuels]]'