Air NZ’s green flight makes history

It was a history-making flight but it looked all very ordinary, and that’s just how Air New Zealand wanted it. The airline completed the world’s first commercial aviation test flight using biofuel to power one of its Boeing 747-400’s Rolls-Royce engines. The jatropha plant, which Air New Zealand sourced from Africa and India, produces seeds that contain inedible lipid oil, which is used to produce fuel. Air New Zealand chief pilot Captain Dave Morgan said the performance on the biofuel blend was indistinguishable from that on normal Jet A1 fuel. Prime Minister John Key congratulated Air New Zealand on the successful test flight, saying, “As we promote ourselves to the world as 100% pure, it’s great to see Air New Zealand showing environmental leadership.” (December 31, 2008)