First Biofuel Flight Touches Down

[Jacaylbaro]

The first flight by a commercial airline to be powered partly by biofuel has landed in Amsterdam.

 

Billed by Virgin Atlantic as a green fuel breakthrough, the firm's flight from Heathrow did not carry passengers.

 

Earlier this month, Airbus used the world's largest passenger jet, the A380, to test another alternative fuel - a synthetic mix of gas-to-liquid.

 

Many environmentalists argue that cultivating biofuel is not sustainable and will lead to reduced land for food.

 

Virgin's Boeing 747 had one of its four engines connected to an independent biofuel tank that it said would provide 20% of the engine's power.

 

The three other engines were capable of powering the plane on conventional fuel had there been a problem.

 

The biofuel was derived from a mixture of babassu nuts and coconuts.

 

The company said the babassu tree, native to Brazil, and the coconuts did not compete with staple food sources and came from existing mature plantations.

 

Both products are commonly used in cosmetics and household paper products.

 

'Gimmick'

 

 

One problem with flying planes using biofuel is that it is more likely to freeze at high altitude.

 

The technology is still being manufactured by companies GE and Boeing, but Virgin believes within 10 years airlines could routinely be flying on plant power.

 

Kenneth Richter, of Friends of the Earth, said the flight was a "gimmick", distracting from real solutions to climate change.

 

"If you look at the latest scientific research it clearly shows biofuels do very little to reduce emissions," he said.

 

"At the same time we are very concerned about the impact of the large-scale increase in biofuel production on the environment and food prices worldwide.

 

"What we need to do is stop this mad expansion of aviation. At the moment it is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases in the UK, and we need to stop subsidising the industry."

 

Greenpeace's chief scientist, Dr Doug Parr, labelled the flight a "high-altitude greenwash" and said less air travel was the only answer.

 

"Instead of looking for a magic green bullet, Virgin should focus on the real solution to this problem and call for a halt to relentless airport expansion."

 

But Virgin Atlantic president Sir Richard Branson said the flight was an early step towards greener aviation.

 

"This pioneering flight will enable those of us who are serious about reducing our carbon emissions to go on developing the fuels of the future, fuels which will power our aircraft in the years ahead through sustainable next-generation oils, such as algae."

 

The three-hour Airbus flight from Filton near Bristol to Toulouse on 1 February was part of an ongoing research programme.

[peasant]

One problem with flying planes using biofuel is that it is more likely to freeze at high altitude.

No thanks i am gonna ride plane with normal fuel.

[Jacaylbaro]

You can be un-freezed later on ..........

[Ms DD]

Apparently this was a hoax...according to some people