Air New Zealand Schedules Biofuel Test Flight

Posted on June 6, 2008
Filed Under Aerospace Industry, Aviation Interest |

The Los Angeles Times (6/5, Pae) reports that Air New Zealand is planning a “three-hour test flight” this summer, during which one of its 747 aircraft will be “powered by fuel refined from” a type of oil gleaned from the “poisonous seeds of the jatropha tree.” Predictions are the fuel refined from jatropha oil “could cost an estimated $43 a barrel, or about one-third of Wednesday’s closing price of $122.30 for a barrel of crude oil.” The Times characterizes Air New Zealand’s test flight as “particularly noteworthy” as “it will come at a time when ethanol and other biofuels have come under increasing scrutiny because of their side effects.” According to scientists, “the quality of jatropha oil [is] better than most for making jet fuel.” Further, “[j]atropha-based fuel…produces about half the harmful carbon emissions of fossil fuel.”

The announcement of the test flight follows recently-released plans from the carrier “to meet at least 10 percent of its annual fuel bill with crop-based alternatives by 2013,” Bloomberg (6/5, Evans) points out. Air New Zealand is also “buying fuel-efficient jetliners to cut emissions and fuel costs, and earlier this year offered customers carbon credits to offset pollution from their travel.”

Reuters (6/5, Bathgate) notes that, according to the carrier, “its program of emissions savings had resulted in a reduction of 91,000 tons of carbon dioxide in the past three years.” Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald (6/5), the New Zealand Herald (6/5, Dye), and Aviation News (6/4) also report the story.

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