Boeing has been experimenting with biofuel to power jets for some time, and now another international test flight is in the works with Air China.
Terrance Scott, a spokesman for Boeing, told us that it has completed a number of biofuel flights since 2008 with a variety of airlines as part of its efforts to design more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly airplanes. He would not say when the international test flight would take place, but he did say the specifics would be forthcoming from Air China.
Boeing and Air China have already completed a domestic flight using a combination of biofuel and jet fuel that went “very well,” Scott said.
Since approving biofuel for commercial use last summer, the airline industry has been in the nascent stages of exploring the use of biofuel to support green-energy goals and cut fuel costs, which are stifling airlines. So far more than 1,500 commercial flights using biofuel have occurred, according to Scott.
Boeing will continue to explore its use of biofuel to power long-haul flights with an international test flight planned with Air China. Boeing completed a flight from the US to Tokyo with All Nippon Airways in April using a 787 Dreamliner (pictured).
Many of the biofuel flights by carriers like Alaska Airlines and Continental Airlines have been short. However, through its work with international airlines, Boeing is laying the foundation for more long-haul flights using biofuel, which can be made from a number of natural elements. Last year, for instance, Air China completed a flight using biofuel produced by PetroChina with oil extracted from the seeds of the jatropha, a locally grown shrub.
Scott would not say what kind of biofuel will power the upcoming Air China international flight, but a jatropha-based fuel is likely to be used once again. Biofuels can also use as their base more standard corn- or sunflower-based cooking oils, as well as oils from a variety of other plants, including soy, rapeseed, mahua, mustard, flax, palm, hemp, or algae.
In April, we reported on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight using biofuel across the Pacific Ocean. The flight, a collaboration between Boeing and All Nippon Airways, originated at Boeing's Delivery Center in Everett, Wash., and terminated at Tokyo Haneda Airport. Boeing said the biofuel (made mainly of cooking oil) and the fuel-efficient design of the Dreamliner combined to lower CO2 emissions on that flight by 30 percent. The biofuel contributed about 10 percent of that reduction, while design efficiencies contributed about 20 percent.
It is time to push past the 50/50 biofuel blend. (Dynamic Fuels biokerosene)
Or perhaps just a price reduction. As it turns out, the bio-fuels used in the airline tests are far more expensive than standard jet fuel. As KLM Royal Dutch Airline, the sector leader of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, stated, "[to meet true sustainability, the price has to] come down substantially and permanently."
Also, more efficient planes should be on the list "to do."
I used to work for a guy (MUCH smarter than me) who would look at something I was working on and say "if this was an airplane would you fly on it?". We were not making aircraft but I always got the message. It made me think things through much more thoroughly.
This seems to be more of a publicity stunt more than anything. Seems to me that they should be testing this fuel on an engine test stand somewhere rather than flying a billion? dollar aircraft around so they can take pictures.
Rob, Liz is the one who's been writing on biofuels in aircraft. I've written about them in shipping (and in Europe, not here): in that case, they're to be blended for use in existing engines. Liz, do you know the answer?
Great to see renewable resources being developed for airline fuel. As this develops further, one interesting trend to watch will be the price of corn and other grains as the demand between food and fuel grows.
I do like the line about local shrubs being used, so hopefully more useable land can be created using this strategy.
We looked at a number of sources to determine this year's greenest cars, from KBB to automotive trade magazines to environmental organizations. These 14 cars emerged as being great at either stretching fuel or reducing carbon footprint.
Researchers at MIT and Sandia National Labs have observed a reaction in lithium-air batteries that could help improve the design of these cells for electric vehicles and other applications.
Healthcare might seem to be an unlikely target application for the Internet of Things technology, but recent developments show small ways that big-data is going to make an impact on patient care moving into the future.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
3 
