Continental to be first U.S. airline to conduct in-flight biofuels test

Last month Virgin Atlantic was the first airline to successfully flight test one of their aircraft with biofuels running through one of the engines. Continental Airlines has now announced that they will be the first airline to follow suit with a planned test in the first half of 2009. Continental will be using one of their 737s for the test. The airline will be collaborating with engine supplier General Electric, aircraft builder Boeing and an as yet unidentified fuel supplier. They will work to identify a renewable fuel produced from non-food biomass that doesn't contribute to deforestation or consume excess water resources while reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the full lifecycle of the fuel. The fuel will be a second-generation biofuel that will be blended with conventional kerosene jet fuel.

[Source: Flight Global]

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