Continental Airlines will operate its first biofuel-powered demonstration flight in Houston 07 January 2009. The demonstration flight, which will be operated with no passengers, will be powered by a special fuel blend including components derived from algae and jatropha plants. Proponents of the fuel blend claim it offers sustainable, second-generation fuel sources that don’t impact food crops or water resources, and don’t contribute to deforestation.
Continental has partnered on this project with Boeing, CFM International, Snecma, refining technology developer UOP and oil providers Sapphire Energy (algae) and Terrasol (jatropha).
The demonstration flight will be the first biofuel flight by a commercial carrier using algae as a fuel source and the first using a two-engine aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 equipped with CFM International CFM56-7B engines.
The fuel used in one of the two CFM engines during the demonstration flight will be a blend of 50 per cent traditional jet fuel, and 50 per cent biofuel from algae and jatropha.
Aircargo Asia Pacific
Login
