Traveling the Green Way

Continental Airlines is testing a second-generation biofuel on one of its aircraft today.

The Boeing 737-800 will take off from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport on a two-hour test flight fuelled, partly by sustainable biofuel derived from algae and jatropha.

Around the world, airlines are testing different types of biofuel as sustainable alternatives to the Jet-A1 (kerosene) fuel used by commercial aviation.   The Houston test flight is the first to take place in North America and the first to use a twin-engine aircraft.

“We have been looking at a number of potential fuel sources as long-term replacements for today’s jet fuel. Algae has been identified as one of the most promising alternatives so we are eager to see how it performs in normal operating conditions,” says Paul Steele, executive director of the Air Transport Action Group.

“We congratulate Continental Airlines on taking this step towards a sustainable future. It is also significant that Continental has worked so closely with partners Boeing, CFM International and Honeywell’s UOP in carrying out this test.  Aviation is setting the standard for cross-industry cooperation projects to reduce our environmental impact.  By working together, great things can be achieved.”

Image courtesy of Air Transport Action Group