Biofuel Used on Passenger Flight for the First Time

Posted by Kyle Hammond on November 24, 2009 at 4:47 pm

KLM broke new ground on Monday with the first passenger flight to use biofuel. (image: virtualpilot88 via flickr.com)

Moves to introduce biofuel into commercial aviation made headway on Monday as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines made the first passenger flight partially fueled by biokerosene. According to Reuters, one of the four Boeing 747 engines contained fifty percent biofuel and fifty percent traditional kerosene. Pleased with the outcome, KLM Chief Executive Peter Hartman stressed the need for coordinated efforts for biofuel production: "We have demonstrated that it is possible. Government, industry and society at large must now join forces to ensure that we quickly gain access to a continuous supply of biofuel."

HeatingOil.com has previously reported on aviation biofuel, noting on November 5 that the International Air Transport Association plans to introduce biofuel to commercial aviation sometime next year.

Air travel currently accounts for an estimated 2 to 4 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Increased use of aviation biofuel could result in significant carbon reductions. The biofuel used on the KLM flight emits up to 80 percent less than conventional kerosene.

This is encouraging news for consumers of heating oil, since successful and increased use of aviation biofuel could help in the creation and implementation of biofuel heating oil.