Air New Zealand is to make the world’s first commercial test flight powered by a sustainable second-generation biofuel.
One engine on a Boeing 747 will use a 50:50 blend of standard jet fuel and synthetic paraffinic kerosene derived from jatropha oil sourced from seeds grown on environmentally sustainable farms in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and India.
Jatropha is a plant that grows to approximately three metres high and produces seeds that contain inedible lipid oil that is used to produce fuel.
The two-hour flight is due to take place from Auckland on December 3.
“Various procedures will be carried out during the test flight to confirm and measure the performance of the engine being operated with this fuel,†said the airline’s chief pilot and general manager airline operations, Captain David Morgan.
Chris Lewis, company specialist – fuels at engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce, said: “Laboratory testing showed the final blend has excellent properties meeting, and in many cases exceeding, the stringent technical requirements for fuels used in civil and defence aircraft.
“The blended fuel therefore meets the essential requirement of being a ‘drop-in’ fuel, meaning its properties will be virtually indistinguishable from conventional Jet A1 fuel, which is used in commercial aviation today.”
by Phil Davies
