12 November 2008

Biofuel 747 test flight date set

Air New Zealand is to make the world's first commercial test flight powered by a sustainable second-generation biofuel.

One engine on a Boeing 747 will use a 50:50 blend of standard jet fuel and synthetic paraffinic kerosene derived from jatropha oil sourced from seeds grown on environmentally sustainable farms in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and India.

Jatropha is a plant that grows to approximately three metres high and produces seeds that contain inedible lipid oil that is used to produce fuel.

The two-hour flight is due to take place from Auckland on December 3.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœVarious procedures will be carried out during the test flight to confirm and measure the performance of the engine being operated with this fuel,Ã¢â¬~ said the airlineÃ¢â¬â¢s chief pilot and general manager airline operations, Captain David Morgan.

Chris Lewis, company specialist Ã¢â¬' fuels at engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce, said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœLaboratory testing showed the final blend has excellent properties meeting, and in many cases exceeding, the stringent technical requirements for fuels used in civil and defence aircraft.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe blended fuel therefore meets the essential requirement of being a Ã¢â¬Ëœdrop-inÃ¢â¬â¢ fuel, meaning its properties will be virtually indistinguishable from conventional Jet A1 fuel, which is used in commercial aviation today."

by Phil Davies