Continental Plans Biofuel Flight in 2009

posted: 13 March 2008 06:15 pm ET

: In the first half of 2009, Continental Airlines will become the first U.S. major airline to operate a biofuel demonstration flight with a commercial jet. It will use an aircraft in the Boeing 737NG family for the flight. Recently Continental became the first U.S. airline to take delivery of a 737-900ER, the latest - and the highest-capacity - 737NG model. Continental's first 737-900ER is seen here taking off on its delivery flight. Credit: Boeing Photo

Continental Airlines is planning to conduct a biofuel demonstration flight in the first half of 2009, to help find sustainable fuel solutions for the commercial aviation industry.

The biofuel flight will be operated by a Boeing Next-Generation 737 equipped with CFM International CFM56-7B engines. CFM is an equal joint venture between General Electric and France's Snecma, a SAFRAN Group company.

Continental is the first major U.S. carrier to announce plans to flight-test sustainable biofuels that can help to reduce carbon emissions. Its announcement today came less than three weeks after Virgin Atlantic Airways became the first airline to fly a commercial jet partly powered by biofuel.

Virgin Atlantic flew a Boeing 747-400 with biofuel in one of its tanks on a demonstration flight from London to Amsterdam on Feb. 25, and the airline's chairman, Sir Richard Branson, later said that initial analysis of data gathered from the 747's engines during the flight was extremely encouraging.

Boeing said in a statement that in the months leading up to Continental's 737 biofuel flight it will work with Continental, GE and an undisclosed fuel provider to identify sustainable fuel sources that don't impact food crops or water resources and don't contribute to deforestation.

The biofuels must also be produced in sufficient quantities to support a pre-flight test schedule that includes laboratory and ground-based jet-engine performance testing to ensure compliance with stringent aviation-fuel performance and safety requirements.

As part of a broader industry effort, Boeing and other companies, including airlines and engine manufacturers, are helping to guide the aviation sector toward sustainable biofuels produced through advanced biomass-conversion technologies and processes that potentially could reduce greenhouse gases.

Production of sustainable biofuels for aviation will require second-generation techniques for fuel-source selection and processing that are uniquely suited for aerospace use. These biofuels will be blended with Jet-A kerosene jet fuel to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

Continental, Boeing and GE will announce additional details of the flight, including the flight plan, closer to the demonstration flight date.

Continental environmental improvements

The airline already has achieved a 35 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption per mainline revenue passenger mile flown over the past 10 years. This is due largely to its employees' efforts to streamline operational procedures and to an investment of more than $12 billion to acquire 270 fuel-efficient aircraft and related equipment.

Continental expects its future fleet to become even more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly. The airline is a launch customer for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, powered by GE engines. Boeing frequently has said that the 787—which features a fuselage largely made of lightweight, but very strong, carbon-fiber composite materials—will be substantially more environmentally efficient than today's jetliners, offering lower carbon emissions and quieter takeoffs and landings.

The airline has also reduced, by 75 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions from ground equipment at its largest hub, Houston Intercontinental Airport. Continental has done so by switching to electric ground service equipment and other new technology. This technology is now being tested for use in cold climates.

Continental says it will continue managing the environmental impact of its business through these initiatives and other projects. These include constructing airport facilities in an environmentally responsible manner; testing alternative fuels in ground service equipment; offering a credible carbon offsetting program based on the actual fuel burn of its fleet; and a large-scale recycling program.