Aviation Biofuel
Content
Aviation biofuel
Aviation biofuel is a biofuel used for aircraft. It is considered by some to be the
primary means by which the aviation industry can reduce its carbon footprint. After a
multi-year technical review from aircraft makers, engine manufacturers and oil
companies, biofuels were approved for commercial use in July 2011.1 Since then,
some airlines have experimented with using of biofuels on commercial flights.2 The
focus of the industry has now turned to second generation sustainable biofuels that
do not compete with food supplies.
Rationale for aviation biofuels
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.
Currently aviation represents 2% of global emissions, but is expected to grow to 3%
by 2050.3 In addition to building more fuel efficient aircraft and operating them more
efficiently, changing the fuel source is one of the few options the aviation industry
has for reducing its carbon footprint. While solar, electric and hydrogen propelled
aircraft are being researched, it is not expected they will be feasible in the near or
medium term due to aviation's need for high power-to-weight ratio and globally
compatible infrastructure.
Concerns and challenges
Biodiesel that is stored for long periods of time is more likely to oxidize, especially at
low temperatures, causing it to gel. Some additives improve the cold weather
tolerance of biodiesel, but only by a few degrees.4 Nitrile-based rubber materials
expand in the presence of aromatic compounds found in conventional petroleum fuel.
Pure biofuels that aren't mixed with petrolum and don't contain paraffin-based
additives may cause rubber seals and hoses to shrink.5 Manufacturers are starting to
use a synthetic rubber substitute called Viton for seals and hoses. Viton isn't
adversely affected by biofuels.6
Industry commitments and collaborations
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) supports research, development
and deployment of alternative fuels. IATA thinks a 6% share of sustainable 2nd
generation biofuels is achievable by 2020,7 and Boeing supports a target of 1% of
global aviation fuels by 2015.8This is in support of the goals of the aviation industry
reaching carbon neutral growth by 2020 and a 50% decrease in carbon emissions by
2050 (relative to a 2005 baseline)9
A group of interested airlines has formed the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group
(SAFUG). The group was formed in 2008 in cooperation with support from NGOs such
as Natural Resources Defense Council and The Roundtable For Sustainable
Biofuels (RSB). Member airlines represent more than 15% of the industry, and all
member CEOs have signed a pledge to work on the development and use
of sustainable biofuels for aviation.10
Boeing is joining other aviation-related members in the Algal Biomass
Organization (ABO).11
Production routes and sources
Jet fuel is a mixture of a large number of different hydrocarbons. The range of their
sizes (molecular weights or carbon numbers) is restricted by the requirements for the
product, for example, freezing point or smoke point. Jet fuels are sometimes classified
as kerosene ornaphtha-type. Kerosene-type fuels include Jet A, Jet A-1, JP-5 and JP-8.
Naphtha-type jet fuels, sometimes referred to as "wide-cut" jet fuel, include Jet B and
JP-4.
"Drop-in" biofuels are biofuels that are completely interchangeable with conventional
fuels. Deriving "drop-in" jet fuel from bio-based sources is ASTM approved via two
routes.
Bio-SPK
The first route involves using oil which is extracted from plant sources
like jatropha, algae,tallows, other waste oils, Babassu and camelina to produce bioSPK (Bio derived synthetic paraffinic Kerosene) by cracking and hydroprocessing.
The growing of algae to make jet fuel is a promising but still emerging technology.
Companies working on algae jet fuel are Solazyme, Honeywell UOP, Solena, Sapphire
Energy, Imperium Renewables, and Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation. Universities
working on algae jet fuel areArizona State University and Cranfield University
Major investors for algae based SPK research are Boeing, Honeywell/UOP, Air New
Zealand,Continental Airlines, Japan Airlines, and General Electric.
See also: Algae fuel
FT-SPK
The second route involves processing solid biomass using pyrolysis to
produce pyrolysis oil orgasification to produce a syngas which is then processed into
FT SPK (Fischer–TropschSynthetic Paraffinic Kerosene).
Future production routes
Further research is being done on an alcohol-to-jet pathway where alcohols such
as ethanol orbutanol are de-oxygenated and processed into jet fuels. In addition,
routes that use synthetic biology to directly create hydro-carbons are being
researched.
Commercial and demonstration flights
Since 2008, a large number of test flights have been conducted, and since ASTM
approval in July 2011,1 several commercial flights with passengers have also
occurred.
Demonstration flights
Date
Operator Platform
Biofuel
Notes
2
GreenFli
Aerovodochod Waste Vegetable Oil Greenflight
October ght
y L29 Delfin
International made
2007
Internati
the very first flight
onal
of an aircraft
powered entirely by
100% biofuel from
the Reno, Stead
airport on the
afternoon of 2
October 2007.
There is no citation
for this entry - it
was made by the
pilot that flew it. In
November of 2008
the same aircraft
and flight crew flew
from Reno, NV to
Leesburg, FL using
100% biofuel for
the first seven of
the nine legs, the
remaining three
were complete don
a 50% biofuel 50%
JetA blend.
Februar
y 2008
Virgin
Atlantic
Boeing 747
Coconut and
Babassu
Virgin flew a biofuel
test flight between
London and
Amsterdam, using a
20% blend of
biofuels in one of
its engines1213
Decem
ber
Air New
Zealand
Boeing 747
Jatropha
A two-hour test
flight using a 50-50
2008
January
2009
mixture of the new
biofuel with Jet A1 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
performance were
found.14
Continen
tal
Airlines
Boeing 737
Algae andjatropha
Continental
Airlines ran the first
flight of an algaefueled jet. The flight
from
Houston'sGeorge
Bush
Intercontinental
Airportcompleted a
circuit over the Gulf
of Mexico. The
pilots on board
executed a series of
tests at 38,000 feet
(12,000 m),
including a midflight 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 biofuels.1516
January
2009
Japan
Airlines
Boeing 747
Camelina,jatrophaan Japan
d algae
Airlines conducted
a one and a half
hour flight with one
engine burning a
50/50 mix of JetA and biofuel from
the Camelinaplant.
17
April
2010
US Navy
F/A-18
Camelina
The Navy tested
this biofuel blend
on the F⁄A-18 Super
Hornet aka "Green
Hornet". Results
from those tests
indicated the
aircraft performed
as expected
through its full
flight envelope with
no degradation of
capability.18
March
2010
US Air
Force
A-10
Camelina
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 JP8and Camelinabased fuel.19
June
2010
Dutch
Military
Ah-64 Apache
Helicopter
Waste cooking oil
June
2010
EADS
Diamond D42
Algae
Occurred at an air
show in Berlin in
June 2010.20
Novem
ber
2010
US Navy
MH-60S
Seahawk
Camelina
Flown on 50⁄50
biofuel blend Nov.
18, 2010 in
Patuxent River, Md.
The helicopter,
from Air Test and
Evaluation
Squadron 21 at
Naval Air Station
Patuxent River
tested a fuel
mixture made from
the Camelina seed.
Novem
ber
2010
TAM
Airbus 320
Jatropha
A 50⁄50 biofuel
blend of
conventional and
jatropha oil21
June
2011
Boeing
Boeing 747-8F
Camelina
Boeing flew its new
model 747-8F to
the Paris Air Show
with all four
engines burning a
15% mix of biofuel
from camelina22
June
2011
Honeywe
ll
Gulfstream
G450
Camelina
The first
transatlantic biofuel
s flight using a
50/50 blend
of camelina-based
biofuel
andpetroleumbased fuel.2324
August
2011
US Navy
T-45
Camelina
Successfully flew a
T-45 training
aircraft using
biofuels at the
Naval Air Station
(NAS) in Patuxent
River, Maryland.
The flight was
completed by the
“Salty Dogs” ofAir
Test and Evaluation
Squadron 23 flying
on biofuel mixture
of 50/50 petroleumbased JP-5 jet fuel
and plant-based
camelina.25
Septem
ber
2011
US Navy
AV-8B
Camelina
Naval Air Warfare
Center Weapons
Division, China Lake
performed the first
bio-fuel flight test
in AV-8B Harrier
from Air Test and
Evaluation
Squadron 31.26
Boeing 747400
Jatropha
Air China flew
China's first flight
October Air China
2011
using aviation
biofuels. The flight
was conducted
using Chinese
grown jatropha oil
fromPetroChina.
The flight was 2
hours in duration
above Beijing, and
used 50% biofuel in
1 engine.27
Novem
ber
2011
Continen
tal
Airlines
Boeing 737800
Algae
United / Continental
flew a biofuel flight
from IAH to ORD on
algae jet
fuel supplied
by Solazyme. The
fuel was partially
derived from
genetically
modified algae that
feed on plant waste
and produce oil. It
was the first
biofuel-powered air
service in the US.28
Novem
ber
2011
Alaska
Airlines
Boeing
737 andBomb
ardier Q400
Algae
Alaska Airlines and
its sister
carrier,Horizon Air,
converted 75 flights
on their schedules
to run on a fuel
mixture of 80%
kerosene and
20% biofuel derived
from used cooking
oil. The biofuel was
made by Dynamic
Fuels, a joint
venture of Tyson
Foods and
Syntroleum Corp.29
January
2012
Etihad
Airways
Boeing 777300ER
vegetable cooking
oil
Etihad
Airways conducted
a biofuel flight from
Abu Dhabi to
Seattle using a
combination of
traditional jet fuel
and fuel based on
recycled vegetable
cooking oil30
April
2012
Porter
Airlines
Bombardier
Q400
Camelina
sativa andBrassica
carinata
Porter Airlines used
50/50 mix of biofuel
(49% Camelina
sativa and
1% Brassica
carinataand) and
Jet-A fuel in one
engine for a flight
from Toronto to
Ottawa.31
October NRC
2012
Dassault
Falcon 20
Carinata
First jet to fly on
100% biofuels that
meet petroleum
specifications
without blending.
Fuel was produced
by Applied
Research
Associates (ARA)
and Chevron
Lummus Global
(CLG) from carinata
oil supplied by
Agrisoma
Biosciences.32
March
2013
Cessna 182
Waste cooking oil
First piston engine
aircraft to fly with a
50/50 blend of
aviation biofuel and
conventional Jet-A
(as specified by
ASTM D7566). First
piston engine
aircraft to fly with a
biofuel blend
operating under a
standard (not
experimental)
airworthiness
certificate.
Demonstration
flight from North
Central State
Airport (KSFZ) in
Rhode Island to
First Flight Airport
(KFFA) in North
Carolina took place
on March 2, 2013.
The Cessna 182
had been converted
under STC to be
powered by an SMA
Paramus
Flying
Club
jet-fuel diesel cycle
piston engine, and
the blended biofuel
was provided by
SkyNRG of Holland.
Commercial flights
Date
Jun
2011
Operator
KLM
Platfor
m
Biofuel
Boein Used
g
cooking
737oil
800
Notes
KLM flew the world's first commercial
biofuel flight, carrying 171 passengers
from Amsterdam to Paris33
Jul 2011
Lufthansa
Airbu
s
A321
Jatroph
a,
camelin
a plants
and
animal
fats
Jul 2011
Finnair
Airbu
s
A319
Used
The 1,500 km journey between
cooking Amsterdam and Helsinki was fuelled
oil
with a mix of 50 per cent biofuel
derived from used cooking oil and 50
per cent conventional jet
fuel.36 Finnair says it will conduct at
least three weekly Amsterdam-toHelsinki flights using the biofuel blend
in both of the aircraft's engines.
Refueling will be done at Amsterdam
Airport Schiphol.37
Jul 2011
Interjet
Airbu
s
A320
Jatroph
a
Flight was powered by 27% jatropha
between Mexico City and Tuxtla
Gutierrez38
Aug
2011
AeroMexic
o
Boein
g
777200
Jatroph
a
Aeromexico flew the world's first transAtlantic revenue flight, from Mexico
City to Madrid with passengers39
Oct
2011
Thomson
Airways
Boein
g
757200
Used
Thomson flew the UK's first commercial
cooking biofuel flight from Birmingham
oil
Airport on one engine using biofuel
from used cooking oil, supplied
by SkyNRG40
Novemb Continenta Boein
er 2011 l Airlines
g
737800
Algae
First German commercial biofuel's
flight, and the start of 6 month regular
series of flights from Hamburg to
Frankfurt with one of the two engines
use biofuel.34 It officially ended on
January 12, 2012 with a flight from
Frankfurt to Washington and would not
take biofuel further unless the biofuel
was more widely produced.35
United / Continental flew biofuel flight
from IAH toORD on algae jet fuel, which
supplied bySolazyme41
March
13,
2013
KLM
Boein
g
777206E
R
Used
KLM begins weekly flights by a Boeing
cooking 777-200 between John F. Kennedy
oil
Airport in New York City, USA and
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport,
Netherlands42 using Biofuel supplied
by SkyNRG43
May 16,
2014
KLM
Airbu
s
A330200
Used
KLM begins weekly flights by an Airbus
cooking A330-200 between Queen Beatrix
oil
International Airport, in
Oranjestad Aruba 44 and Amsterdam’s
Schiphol Airport, Netherlands (with a
stop-over in Bonaire)42using Biofuel
supplied by SkyNRG43
Aug 4,
2014
Gol
Transporte
s Aéreos
Boein
g
737700
Inedible
corn oil
and
used
cooking
oil
Nov 7,
2014
Scandinavi Boein
an Airlines g
737600
Used
SAS Flight SK2064 flew their first ever
cooking flight using bio-fuel
oil
between Stockholm and Östersund usin
g a 10 % blend of JET A1 based on used
cooking oil. It was also the first flight
from Arlanda Airport46
Nov 11,
2014
Scandinavi Boein
an Airlines g
737700
Used
SAS Flight SK371 flew the first ever
cooking Norwegian domestic flight using biooil
fuel between Trondheimand Oslo using
a 48 % blend of JET A1 based on used
cooking oil47
Mar 21,
2015
Hainan
Airlines
Used
Hainan Airlines conducted China's first
cooking commercial biofuel flight carrying 156
oil
passengers from Shanghai to Beijing.
The fuel, supplied by Sinopec, was a
fuel blend of approximately 50 percent
aviation biofuel mixed with
conventional petroleum jet fuel.48
Boein
g
737800
Gol Flight 2152 took off from Rio
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) towards
Brasilia (BSB) with a 4% mix of bio
jetfuel 45
Environmental effects
Further information: Biofuel § Greenhouse gas emissions
A life cycle assessment by the Yale School of Forestry on jatropha, one source of
potential biofuels, estimated using it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to
85% if former agro-pastoral land is used, or increase emissions by up to 60% if
natural woodland is converted to use.49 In addition, biofuels do not contain sulfur
compounds and thus do not emit sulfur dioxide.
Many different standards exist for certification of sustainable biofuels. One such
standard often cited by airlines is the one developed by the The Roundtable For
Sustainable Biofuels. Nearly all such standards include a minimum amount of
greenhouse gas reduction and consideration that biofuels do not compete with food.
See also
References
1.
^ Jump up to: a b 'ASTM approval of biofuels'
2.
3.
Jump up ^ Airlines Weigh the Advantages of Biofuels
Jump up ^ 'IPCC Special Report on Aviation Global Emissions'
4.
Jump up ^ "Renewable and Alternative Energy Fact Sheet" (PDF). Agricultural
Research and Cooperative Extension. Penn State College of Agricultural Science.
Retrieved March 7, 2012.
5.
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Fuels" (PDF). Sponsored by the FAA. Authored by MIT staff. Published by RAND
Corporation. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
6.
Jump up ^ "Biodiesel FAQ" (PDF). University of Kentucky College of
Agriculture. 2006. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
7.
8.
Jump up ^ 'IATA Fact Sheet: Alternative Fuels'
Jump up ^ 'Boeing targets 1% of aviation fuel'
9.
10.
Jump up ^ 'IATA Emission Targets'
Jump up ^ 'SAFUG Pledge'
11.
Jump up ^ First Airlines and UOP Join Algal Biomass Organization, Green Car
Congress, 19 June 2008.
12.
Jump up ^ Dunn, Graham (24 February 2008). "Partners carry out first biofuel
flight using Virgin 747". Flight International. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
13.
14.
15.
Jump up ^ 'Virgin flight for biofuels'
Jump up ^ 'Air New Zealand Demonstration Flight'
Jump up ^ Lane, Jim (2009-01-08). "Continental Airlines tests aviation biofuel;
first use of algae; first US biofuel test flight; first two-engine flight". Biofuels Digest.
Retrieved 2009-09-20.
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Jump up ^ "First flight of algae-fuelled jet". BBC. 2009-01-08. |
accessdate= requires|url= (help)
17.
Jump up ^ http://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/200901/001108.html
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20.
Jump up ^ Morris, John (2010-06-07). "EADS Sets First Public Algae-Biofuel
Flight At ILA Berlin". Aviation Week. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
21.
22.
23.
Jump up ^ 'Test flight for TAM'
Jump up ^ 'Boeing 747-8F flies to Paris on biofuel'
Jump up ^ Cattermole, Tannith (June 26, 2011). "Gulfstream G450 crosses the
Atlantic on 50/50 biofuel-jetfuel blend". GizMag. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
24.
Jump up ^ Paur, Jason (June 17, 2011). "Trans-Atlantic Biofuel Flights Kick Off
Paris Air Show". WIRED. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
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Jump up ^ http://domesticfuel.com/2011/08/29/us-navy-completessuccessful-t-45-biofuel-flight/
26.
Jump up ^ http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?
fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=4766
27.
Jump up ^ http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/201110/29/content_14000985.htm'China's first biofuels flight'
28.
Jump up ^ Hilkevitch, Jon (November 11, 2011). "Continental Airlines flight is
first in U.S. to use biofuel". LA Times. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
29.
Jump up ^ "Alaska Airlines Launching Biofuel-Powered Commercial Service In
The United States" (Press release). Alaska Airlines. November 7, 2011. Retrieved
December 30, 2011.
30.
Jump up ^ http://atwonline.com/eco-aviation/article/etihad-conducts-seattleabu-dhabi-biofuel-flight-0221
31.
Jump up ^ Chittley, Jordan (2012-04-18). "Porter Airlines operates first
biofuel-powered passenger flight in Canada".
32.
Jump up ^ "NRC Flies World's First Civil Jet Powered by 100 Percent Biofuel".
Aero-news Network. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
33.
34.
Jump up ^ 'First commercial biofuel flight'
Jump up ^ 'Lufthansa kicks off regular biofuel flight'
35.
Jump up ^ "Lufthansa Wraps up Biofuel Test on German Flights". January 12,
2012.
36.
37.
Jump up ^ http://www.greenaironline.com/news.php?viewStory=1300
Jump up ^ http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/20/finnair-to-attempt-longest-
commercial-biofuel-flight-in-aviation/
38.
Jump up ^ 'First biofuel flight in Latin-America'
39.
40.
41.
Jump up ^ 'First Trans-Continental biofuel flight'
Jump up ^ 'First UK commercial flight'
Jump up ^ Hilkevitch, Jon (2011-11-11). "Continental Airlines flight is first in
U.S. to use biofuel". Los Angeles Times.
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Land Use Change fromJatropha Curcas-Based Jet Fuel in Brazil". Environmental Science
& Technology 44 (22): 8684. doi:10.1021/es1019178. edit
Aviation biofuel is a biofuel used for aircraft. It is considered by some to be the
primary means by which the aviation industry can reduce its carbon footprint. After a
multi-year technical review from aircraft makers, engine manufacturers and oil
companies, biofuels were approved for commercial use in July 2011.1 Since then,
some airlines have experimented with using of biofuels on commercial flights.2 The
focus of the industry has now turned to second generation sustainable biofuels that
do not compete with food supplies.
Rationale for aviation biofuels
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.
Currently aviation represents 2% of global emissions, but is expected to grow to 3%
by 2050.3 In addition to building more fuel efficient aircraft and operating them more
efficiently, changing the fuel source is one of the few options the aviation industry
has for reducing its carbon footprint. While solar, electric and hydrogen propelled
aircraft are being researched, it is not expected they will be feasible in the near or
medium term due to aviation's need for high power-to-weight ratio and globally
compatible infrastructure.
Concerns and challenges
Biodiesel that is stored for long periods of time is more likely to oxidize, especially at
low temperatures, causing it to gel. Some additives improve the cold weather
tolerance of biodiesel, but only by a few degrees.4 Nitrile-based rubber materials
expand in the presence of aromatic compounds found in conventional petroleum fuel.
Pure biofuels that aren't mixed with petrolum and don't contain paraffin-based
additives may cause rubber seals and hoses to shrink.5 Manufacturers are starting to
use a synthetic rubber substitute called Viton for seals and hoses. Viton isn't
adversely affected by biofuels.6
Industry commitments and collaborations
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) supports research, development
and deployment of alternative fuels. IATA thinks a 6% share of sustainable 2nd
generation biofuels is achievable by 2020,7 and Boeing supports a target of 1% of
global aviation fuels by 2015.8This is in support of the goals of the aviation industry
reaching carbon neutral growth by 2020 and a 50% decrease in carbon emissions by
2050 (relative to a 2005 baseline)9
A group of interested airlines has formed the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group
(SAFUG). The group was formed in 2008 in cooperation with support from NGOs such
as Natural Resources Defense Council and The Roundtable For Sustainable
Biofuels (RSB). Member airlines represent more than 15% of the industry, and all
member CEOs have signed a pledge to work on the development and use
of sustainable biofuels for aviation.10
Boeing is joining other aviation-related members in the Algal Biomass
Organization (ABO).11
Production routes and sources
Jet fuel is a mixture of a large number of different hydrocarbons. The range of their
sizes (molecular weights or carbon numbers) is restricted by the requirements for the
product, for example, freezing point or smoke point. Jet fuels are sometimes classified
as kerosene ornaphtha-type. Kerosene-type fuels include Jet A, Jet A-1, JP-5 and JP-8.
Naphtha-type jet fuels, sometimes referred to as "wide-cut" jet fuel, include Jet B and
JP-4.
"Drop-in" biofuels are biofuels that are completely interchangeable with conventional
fuels. Deriving "drop-in" jet fuel from bio-based sources is ASTM approved via two
routes.
Bio-SPK
The first route involves using oil which is extracted from plant sources
like jatropha, algae,tallows, other waste oils, Babassu and camelina to produce bioSPK (Bio derived synthetic paraffinic Kerosene) by cracking and hydroprocessing.
The growing of algae to make jet fuel is a promising but still emerging technology.
Companies working on algae jet fuel are Solazyme, Honeywell UOP, Solena, Sapphire
Energy, Imperium Renewables, and Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation. Universities
working on algae jet fuel areArizona State University and Cranfield University
Major investors for algae based SPK research are Boeing, Honeywell/UOP, Air New
Zealand,Continental Airlines, Japan Airlines, and General Electric.
See also: Algae fuel
FT-SPK
The second route involves processing solid biomass using pyrolysis to
produce pyrolysis oil orgasification to produce a syngas which is then processed into
FT SPK (Fischer–TropschSynthetic Paraffinic Kerosene).
Future production routes
Further research is being done on an alcohol-to-jet pathway where alcohols such
as ethanol orbutanol are de-oxygenated and processed into jet fuels. In addition,
routes that use synthetic biology to directly create hydro-carbons are being
researched.
Commercial and demonstration flights
Since 2008, a large number of test flights have been conducted, and since ASTM
approval in July 2011,1 several commercial flights with passengers have also
occurred.
Demonstration flights
Date
Operator Platform
Biofuel
Notes
2
GreenFli
Aerovodochod Waste Vegetable Oil Greenflight
October ght
y L29 Delfin
International made
2007
Internati
the very first flight
onal
of an aircraft
powered entirely by
100% biofuel from
the Reno, Stead
airport on the
afternoon of 2
October 2007.
There is no citation
for this entry - it
was made by the
pilot that flew it. In
November of 2008
the same aircraft
and flight crew flew
from Reno, NV to
Leesburg, FL using
100% biofuel for
the first seven of
the nine legs, the
remaining three
were complete don
a 50% biofuel 50%
JetA blend.
Februar
y 2008
Virgin
Atlantic
Boeing 747
Coconut and
Babassu
Virgin flew a biofuel
test flight between
London and
Amsterdam, using a
20% blend of
biofuels in one of
its engines1213
Decem
ber
Air New
Zealand
Boeing 747
Jatropha
A two-hour test
flight using a 50-50
2008
January
2009
mixture of the new
biofuel with Jet A1 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
performance were
found.14
Continen
tal
Airlines
Boeing 737
Algae andjatropha
Continental
Airlines ran the first
flight of an algaefueled jet. The flight
from
Houston'sGeorge
Bush
Intercontinental
Airportcompleted a
circuit over the Gulf
of Mexico. The
pilots on board
executed a series of
tests at 38,000 feet
(12,000 m),
including a midflight 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 biofuels.1516
January
2009
Japan
Airlines
Boeing 747
Camelina,jatrophaan Japan
d algae
Airlines conducted
a one and a half
hour flight with one
engine burning a
50/50 mix of JetA and biofuel from
the Camelinaplant.
17
April
2010
US Navy
F/A-18
Camelina
The Navy tested
this biofuel blend
on the F⁄A-18 Super
Hornet aka "Green
Hornet". Results
from those tests
indicated the
aircraft performed
as expected
through its full
flight envelope with
no degradation of
capability.18
March
2010
US Air
Force
A-10
Camelina
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 JP8and Camelinabased fuel.19
June
2010
Dutch
Military
Ah-64 Apache
Helicopter
Waste cooking oil
June
2010
EADS
Diamond D42
Algae
Occurred at an air
show in Berlin in
June 2010.20
Novem
ber
2010
US Navy
MH-60S
Seahawk
Camelina
Flown on 50⁄50
biofuel blend Nov.
18, 2010 in
Patuxent River, Md.
The helicopter,
from Air Test and
Evaluation
Squadron 21 at
Naval Air Station
Patuxent River
tested a fuel
mixture made from
the Camelina seed.
Novem
ber
2010
TAM
Airbus 320
Jatropha
A 50⁄50 biofuel
blend of
conventional and
jatropha oil21
June
2011
Boeing
Boeing 747-8F
Camelina
Boeing flew its new
model 747-8F to
the Paris Air Show
with all four
engines burning a
15% mix of biofuel
from camelina22
June
2011
Honeywe
ll
Gulfstream
G450
Camelina
The first
transatlantic biofuel
s flight using a
50/50 blend
of camelina-based
biofuel
andpetroleumbased fuel.2324
August
2011
US Navy
T-45
Camelina
Successfully flew a
T-45 training
aircraft using
biofuels at the
Naval Air Station
(NAS) in Patuxent
River, Maryland.
The flight was
completed by the
“Salty Dogs” ofAir
Test and Evaluation
Squadron 23 flying
on biofuel mixture
of 50/50 petroleumbased JP-5 jet fuel
and plant-based
camelina.25
Septem
ber
2011
US Navy
AV-8B
Camelina
Naval Air Warfare
Center Weapons
Division, China Lake
performed the first
bio-fuel flight test
in AV-8B Harrier
from Air Test and
Evaluation
Squadron 31.26
Boeing 747400
Jatropha
Air China flew
China's first flight
October Air China
2011
using aviation
biofuels. The flight
was conducted
using Chinese
grown jatropha oil
fromPetroChina.
The flight was 2
hours in duration
above Beijing, and
used 50% biofuel in
1 engine.27
Novem
ber
2011
Continen
tal
Airlines
Boeing 737800
Algae
United / Continental
flew a biofuel flight
from IAH to ORD on
algae jet
fuel supplied
by Solazyme. The
fuel was partially
derived from
genetically
modified algae that
feed on plant waste
and produce oil. It
was the first
biofuel-powered air
service in the US.28
Novem
ber
2011
Alaska
Airlines
Boeing
737 andBomb
ardier Q400
Algae
Alaska Airlines and
its sister
carrier,Horizon Air,
converted 75 flights
on their schedules
to run on a fuel
mixture of 80%
kerosene and
20% biofuel derived
from used cooking
oil. The biofuel was
made by Dynamic
Fuels, a joint
venture of Tyson
Foods and
Syntroleum Corp.29
January
2012
Etihad
Airways
Boeing 777300ER
vegetable cooking
oil
Etihad
Airways conducted
a biofuel flight from
Abu Dhabi to
Seattle using a
combination of
traditional jet fuel
and fuel based on
recycled vegetable
cooking oil30
April
2012
Porter
Airlines
Bombardier
Q400
Camelina
sativa andBrassica
carinata
Porter Airlines used
50/50 mix of biofuel
(49% Camelina
sativa and
1% Brassica
carinataand) and
Jet-A fuel in one
engine for a flight
from Toronto to
Ottawa.31
October NRC
2012
Dassault
Falcon 20
Carinata
First jet to fly on
100% biofuels that
meet petroleum
specifications
without blending.
Fuel was produced
by Applied
Research
Associates (ARA)
and Chevron
Lummus Global
(CLG) from carinata
oil supplied by
Agrisoma
Biosciences.32
March
2013
Cessna 182
Waste cooking oil
First piston engine
aircraft to fly with a
50/50 blend of
aviation biofuel and
conventional Jet-A
(as specified by
ASTM D7566). First
piston engine
aircraft to fly with a
biofuel blend
operating under a
standard (not
experimental)
airworthiness
certificate.
Demonstration
flight from North
Central State
Airport (KSFZ) in
Rhode Island to
First Flight Airport
(KFFA) in North
Carolina took place
on March 2, 2013.
The Cessna 182
had been converted
under STC to be
powered by an SMA
Paramus
Flying
Club
jet-fuel diesel cycle
piston engine, and
the blended biofuel
was provided by
SkyNRG of Holland.
Commercial flights
Date
Jun
2011
Operator
KLM
Platfor
m
Biofuel
Boein Used
g
cooking
737oil
800
Notes
KLM flew the world's first commercial
biofuel flight, carrying 171 passengers
from Amsterdam to Paris33
Jul 2011
Lufthansa
Airbu
s
A321
Jatroph
a,
camelin
a plants
and
animal
fats
Jul 2011
Finnair
Airbu
s
A319
Used
The 1,500 km journey between
cooking Amsterdam and Helsinki was fuelled
oil
with a mix of 50 per cent biofuel
derived from used cooking oil and 50
per cent conventional jet
fuel.36 Finnair says it will conduct at
least three weekly Amsterdam-toHelsinki flights using the biofuel blend
in both of the aircraft's engines.
Refueling will be done at Amsterdam
Airport Schiphol.37
Jul 2011
Interjet
Airbu
s
A320
Jatroph
a
Flight was powered by 27% jatropha
between Mexico City and Tuxtla
Gutierrez38
Aug
2011
AeroMexic
o
Boein
g
777200
Jatroph
a
Aeromexico flew the world's first transAtlantic revenue flight, from Mexico
City to Madrid with passengers39
Oct
2011
Thomson
Airways
Boein
g
757200
Used
Thomson flew the UK's first commercial
cooking biofuel flight from Birmingham
oil
Airport on one engine using biofuel
from used cooking oil, supplied
by SkyNRG40
Novemb Continenta Boein
er 2011 l Airlines
g
737800
Algae
First German commercial biofuel's
flight, and the start of 6 month regular
series of flights from Hamburg to
Frankfurt with one of the two engines
use biofuel.34 It officially ended on
January 12, 2012 with a flight from
Frankfurt to Washington and would not
take biofuel further unless the biofuel
was more widely produced.35
United / Continental flew biofuel flight
from IAH toORD on algae jet fuel, which
supplied bySolazyme41
March
13,
2013
KLM
Boein
g
777206E
R
Used
KLM begins weekly flights by a Boeing
cooking 777-200 between John F. Kennedy
oil
Airport in New York City, USA and
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport,
Netherlands42 using Biofuel supplied
by SkyNRG43
May 16,
2014
KLM
Airbu
s
A330200
Used
KLM begins weekly flights by an Airbus
cooking A330-200 between Queen Beatrix
oil
International Airport, in
Oranjestad Aruba 44 and Amsterdam’s
Schiphol Airport, Netherlands (with a
stop-over in Bonaire)42using Biofuel
supplied by SkyNRG43
Aug 4,
2014
Gol
Transporte
s Aéreos
Boein
g
737700
Inedible
corn oil
and
used
cooking
oil
Nov 7,
2014
Scandinavi Boein
an Airlines g
737600
Used
SAS Flight SK2064 flew their first ever
cooking flight using bio-fuel
oil
between Stockholm and Östersund usin
g a 10 % blend of JET A1 based on used
cooking oil. It was also the first flight
from Arlanda Airport46
Nov 11,
2014
Scandinavi Boein
an Airlines g
737700
Used
SAS Flight SK371 flew the first ever
cooking Norwegian domestic flight using biooil
fuel between Trondheimand Oslo using
a 48 % blend of JET A1 based on used
cooking oil47
Mar 21,
2015
Hainan
Airlines
Used
Hainan Airlines conducted China's first
cooking commercial biofuel flight carrying 156
oil
passengers from Shanghai to Beijing.
The fuel, supplied by Sinopec, was a
fuel blend of approximately 50 percent
aviation biofuel mixed with
conventional petroleum jet fuel.48
Boein
g
737800
Gol Flight 2152 took off from Rio
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) towards
Brasilia (BSB) with a 4% mix of bio
jetfuel 45
Environmental effects
Further information: Biofuel § Greenhouse gas emissions
A life cycle assessment by the Yale School of Forestry on jatropha, one source of
potential biofuels, estimated using it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to
85% if former agro-pastoral land is used, or increase emissions by up to 60% if
natural woodland is converted to use.49 In addition, biofuels do not contain sulfur
compounds and thus do not emit sulfur dioxide.
Many different standards exist for certification of sustainable biofuels. One such
standard often cited by airlines is the one developed by the The Roundtable For
Sustainable Biofuels. Nearly all such standards include a minimum amount of
greenhouse gas reduction and consideration that biofuels do not compete with food.
See also
References
1.
^ Jump up to: a b 'ASTM approval of biofuels'
2.
3.
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fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=4766
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28.
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first in U.S. to use biofuel". LA Times. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
29.
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The United States" (Press release). Alaska Airlines. November 7, 2011. Retrieved
December 30, 2011.
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biofuel-powered passenger flight in Canada".
32.
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Aero-news Network. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
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34.
Jump up ^ 'First commercial biofuel flight'
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35.
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36.
37.
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commercial-biofuel-flight-in-aviation/
38.
Jump up ^ 'First biofuel flight in Latin-America'
39.
40.
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