Airbus in alternative fuel partnership

TOULOUSE - Airbus has teamed with Honeywell Aerospace; UOP, a Honeywell Company; International Aero Engines (IAE); and JetBlue Airways to pursue the development of a sustainable second-generation biofuel for use in commercial aircraft.

The companies’ joint activity will help develop renewable energy technology to convert vegetation- and algae-based oils into aviation fuels and to evaluate the challenges for obtaining approval for this fuel by standards organizations. Such non-food-crop biomass fuels are known to provide a better fuel-to-emissions lifecycle than current kerosene.

JetBlue, IAE, Honeywell and Airbus are examining the benefits of jet fuels derived from renewable biomass sources that do not compete with existing food production or valuable land and water resources.