It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane… and Biofuel

By Beth Starkin, GreenPepper

There have recently been two jet biofuel test flights in as many weeks, with another expected at the end of the month.  While the flights play a critical role in ensuring fuels meet safety requirements, that may not be the only reason behind them.  In fact, you can be pretty darn sure that no one is sending a 40 ton plane into the sky without being at least 98 percent certain it's not going to come crashing back to the ground.  Just as important, the test flights served as an opportunity to show the world the possibilities on the horizon in making flying far greener and show that real solutions are underway.

It's true that it's unlikely any of us will be flying on a plane powered with biofuel anytime in the immediate future.  But it's also true that in the US alone, 1.6 billion gallons of jet fuel are used every month, a frightening fact your average flyer is likely completely unaware of.  Test flights bring attention to this critical issue and build support, both from the government and the general public in funding research to reach commercialization of these solutions.  This support is critical in any industry if we ever expect to have a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions.

For the companies participating in the flights, it has been an incredible way to build green credibility.  In an era where "greenwashing" is frequently the norm, and so many are doing the bare minimum, it is refreshing to see companies taking a true leadership position by very publicly displaying the green technology they are testing.  It builds faith in the brand, and ultimately may help to drive the bottom line for some participants.  In all honestly, before this week, it is unlikely I would have ranked Continental among the green companies, but today, I would factor that into a decision when booking flights.  Boeing and Honeywell UOP (a Peppercom client), along with Air New Zealand and Japan Airlines, also brighten their green stripes through participation in the flights.

It would be wonderful to see more industries follow the lead of the airlines in making very public displays of true greening initiatives, not just playing lipservice to the environmental trend.  While the solutions may not be final today, we all need to have greater awareness of the issues at hand and the progress being made now.

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