The term “sustainable” is rarely seen in the same sentence as “airplane.” Maybe because an airplane’s CO2 emissions, per passenger and per mile, are almost as environmentally inefficient as driving a car with one passenger.  So, what’s an ecopreneur to do when trying to be as green as possible, but not able forgo airplanes altogether?

The good news is that the economics of the airline industry—rising fuel prices and a global economic downturn—are leading all airlines to be more forward thinking about sustainability (even if they have a long way to go). But a few airlines are getting love for their environmental efforts.  Take Continental, Virgin Atlantic,  Jet Blue or Southwest. In 2007, Fortune Magazine named Continental Airlines as one of the “10 Green Giants” in America citing the airline’s $16 billion investment in efficient aircraft, fuel-saving winglets that reduce fuel emissions, their 75% reduction in the nitrogen oxide output from ground equipment at its Houston hub, its 13 full-time staff environmentalists and its corporate recycling practices. Virgin Atlantic is also considered a green leader in a black industry. It has new fleets, innovative recycling programs and leading-edge brother-companies, Virgin Green Fund and Virgin Fuel that invest in new products and technologies that will help reduce CO2 emissions.  JetBlue gets good reports because of their newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft and their in-flight recycling and waste-management programs. Southwest is an U.S. EPA Blue Skyways Collaborative Partner and has won environmental stewardship awards including the President’s Environmental Youth Award, the Dallas Water Utilities Blue Thumb Silver Award (2001-2006), the 2007 Port of Portland Aviation Environmental Excellence Award and the 2007 Keep Dallas Beautiful Environmental Excellence Award.

And, just to prove the point that green business is good business, The 2008 Zagat Airline Survey released today named these four airlines as best-in-class on several consumer-based metrics.  According to ZagatBuzz:

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Click the image above to hear Richard Branson, head of Virgin Atlantic Airways, talk about his commitment to develop “clean fuels” for aviation. Back in 2006 Branson said he’d put 100% of Virgin’s future profits, or $3 billion over the next 10 years, into fighting global warming. That includes $1 billion earmarked for alternative fuels, including a proprietary “Virgin fuel” developed for cars, trucks, trains, and of course, aircraft.

Learn more from the Washington Post interview above…

As promised in their earlier news releases, Virgin Atlantic said they would use a sustainable fuel made from feedstock not normally used for food products. Both coconut oil and babassu oil are used in cosmetic products, lip balm and other such applications. The raw materials were harvested from existing, mature plantations in Brazil.

Sir Richard Branson, president of Virgin Atlantic is quoted as saying,

“Today marks a biofuel breakthrough for the whole airline industry, Virgin Atlantic nd its partners have proved that you can find an alternative to
traditional jet fuel and fly a plane on biofuel. This pioneering flight
will enable those of us who are serious about reducing our carbon emissions
to go on developing the fuels of the future, fuels which will power our
aircraft in the years ahead.”

There was wide speculation that an algae-based biofuel would be used in the test, but that, of course, proved false even though Virgin Atlantic hinted strongly at the possibility.

According to Radio Netherlands the Boeing 747 landed at Amsterdam’s Schipol airport after a successful flight.

Engineers will now study results of tests taken during the trip to determine if sustainable biofuels will fit into commercial aviation and lessen CO2 emissions.

Not everyone agrees, however, that biofuels will “fly”, as noted here by  Pem Charnley, contributor to Green Options’ EcoWorldly blog.  His feelings are outlined here, Pies in the Sky.

Source

Nuts picked from Amazon rainforests help fuel the world’s first commercial airline flight powered by renewable energy.

More on this development at Gas 2.0 and EcoWorldly. 

What’s that in the sky. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s biofuel.

I’m never that sure about Sir Richard Branson. (Why is he a knight? Knights save maidens, atop steeds, in shiny metal suits, the backdrop a castle with billowing flags and things. Knights don’t run record labels. Ah, he signed the Sex Pistols. I take it all back.)

Hang on a moment. The Pistols fought the establishment. Their sarcasm on God Save the Queen is legendary. Knighthoods are provided by the queen. You see?

I’m not that keen on biofuels either. A mixed blessing isn’t good enough, when we have the winds, tides and sunlight to power our future.

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It was first reported in January that Virgin Atlantic would test flight a Boeing 747 jetliner using a biofuel, without naming the fuel. An algae-derived biofuel was, however, mentioned as a strong possibility for the flight between London Heathrow airport and Amsterdam. The plane will carry a limited flight crew and no passengers.

Next, an official of the UK Department of Transport claimed in a document leaked to Flight International that a 20% mixture of algae biofuel and regular jet fuel will be used in one engine for the test.

The latest comes from a Boeing official who said, in an interveiw with Flight at the Singapore air show, the Virgin Flight will definitely not use algae-derived biofuel in the test. Instead, a first-generation feedstock, such as soy, canola, babassu or palm oil will be the source of the biofuel.

The use of a hydrogenated fuel would, as one expert put it, “be a good demonstration of proof of concept.” He did say, however, that algae will be considered as a fuel source in the future.

Well, whatever they use, it’ll be a first for the commercial aviation industry. An Airbus 380 flew with a gas-to-liquid biofuel a few weeks ago, proving that a biofuel was an option, but in their case it was a fuel derived from fossil deposits.

The test is slated for the end of February, so we’ll know soon what fuel was used in the flight.

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In January, Virgin announced it would conduct the test flight, and only hinted at the use of an algae-based biofuel for the test. Flight quoted a document verifying the use of the algae biofuel, and indicated there were no fears of a miscue during the flight.

A limited crew will fly the empty 747 from London’s Heathrow Airport to Amsterdam. Following the flight, officials said the aircraft’s fuel system will be completely flushed as a precaution to remove any residual biofuel. The engine being used is said to be due for a major overhaul after the test.

Airbus used a gas to liquid fuel, derived from natural gas, in its flight from Filton, UK to Toulouse, France in mid January.

Developers of algae-based biofuels say they can tweak certain varieties of algae to produce a fuel that would power a jet engine without using it as an additive. Pond scum seems to have gained dignity and appears headed for a real future.

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Interestingly, sources were specific that the biofuel used will be from a very sustainable source, but not one that would compete with food or fresh water sources. Algae is mentioned several times in the story.

Certain varieties of algae have been identified as a possible feedstock, which contains a much higher energy content than oilseeds and can be far less demanding on the environment.

The engine to be used in the test, GE’s CF6, will not require any modification for the flight, and the use of biofuel is not expected to have a negative effect on the engine’s performance or range.

Virgin Atlantic recognises how important it is for all companies to understand the impact of the products they use, both on the environment and on the people producing them. So, we’re proud to support Fairtrade, which guarantees farmers a fair price for their product, and are really pleased that our passengers will benefit from a comprehensive range of Fairtrade teas and coffees onboard our flights.

Virgin Atlantic made the decision to offer Fair Trade as a part of their business sustainability strategy. Serving Fair Trade is part of the step to provide more "ethical, environmental and sustainable products." The airline is also putting their fleet on a diet, creating leaner planes that require less fuel. They have begun replacing older planes with the new Dreamliner, which burns 27% less fuel. The new Boeing plane was unveiled earlier this summer and it’s composition is high in carbon fiber rather than the traditional aluminum, reducing it’s weight and therefore fuel requirements. Virgin Atlantic continues to search better ways to fly, with a 3 billion investment from Virgin’s transportation profits to find renewable energy initiatives and using biofuels in flight. Last year Virgin unveiled a plan to build a starting grid at airports. This holding area would be close to the runway and consist of several parking bays. The result would mean the plane could be towed closer to the runway before take-off and thereby reduce the time the massive engines idle.

Of course, a large portion of responsible travel is on the traveller’s shoulders. There are many options, from limiting our travel to finding alternate forms such as train transport, which emits 1/3 of the carbon as its equivalent flight. Yet for those unavoidable times we must take to the skies, there are now flights in which you can sip your coffee in comfort knowing it was not made at another’s expense.