Biofuels pass Boeing flight tests for fuel efficiency and emissions reduction.

Airlines and aircraft manufacturers are sounding more enthusiastic about the use of biofuels for jet engines, after a new study and a successful test flights.
The study by Boeing released at the Paris Air Show, found that in a series of tests - including test flights by Japan Airlines, Air New Zealand and Continental Airlines - biofuel blends performed "as well or better" than traditional jet fuel made from petroleum, according to Forbes.
In the tests the fuels met key standards such as freezing point, viscosity and fuel density, Boeing said. The tests also found the blends had greater energy content by mass than regular jet fuel, meaning they could improve fuel economy.
Continental Airlines announced today that greenhouse gas emissions from its demonstration flight are estimated to be reduced by 60 percent to 80 percent as compared to traditional jet fuel.
So far, the testing has been done mainly with algae and plants like jatropha and camelina.
"The announcement .... that gas emissions are reduced 60 to 80 percent when using biofuels instead of traditional jet fuel is a landmark announcement for the role that biofuels will play within the coming months and years," said Riggs Eckelberry, CEO of OriginOil, developer of an algae fuel technology.
However, since jet biofuels require a more sophisticated production process than other biofuels, they continue to be more expensive than regular jet fuel.

Boeing plans to submit the results of its study to an international standards body so the fuel blends could be used commercially, possibly in a few years, Forbes says.
"That's really our aim--to get real supply chains in place around the world so that aviation can start to use these more sustainable and lower life-cycle fuels as soon as possible," said Billy Glover, Boeing's managing director for environmental strategy. In the tests, one biofuel blend showed an 80 per cent reduction in carbon-dioxide emissions compared with traditional jet fuel.
Continental Airlines’ biofuels demonstration flight found that biofuels are 60-80 per cent more efficient than traditional jet fuel.

- David Adams, Times staff writer

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