Air New Zealand declares first jatropha biofuel flight a success
Air New Zealand last week successfully completed the world's first test flight of a commercial airliner running on a jatropha-based biofuel, and immediately announced that it would now begin work to have the fuel certified for use in passenger jets.
Air New Zealand last week successfully completed the world's first test flight of a commercial airliner running on a jatropha-based biofuel, and immediately announced that it would now begin work to have the fuel certified for use in passenger jets.
A blend of 50 per cent jatropha and 50 per cent standard jet fuel was used to power one engine during the two hour flight over Auckland, New Zealand, while a series of in-flight tests were carried out.
Chief Pilot on the flight, Captain David Morgan, said the biofuel performed well through both the fuel system and engine.
"To complete our testing programme our engineers will be thoroughly assessing the engine and fuel systems looking for any changes as a result of the use of biofuel," he said.
"Together with our partners on this project we will then review all the results as part of our drive to have jatropha certified as an aviation fuel."
The test flight was a joint initiative between Air New Zealand, Boeing, Rolls-Royce and Honeywell's UOP, with support from Terasol Energy.
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Source: Business Green
