JAL tests new bio-jet fuel blend

Japan Airlines (JAL) became the first Asian airline and the world’s fourth to fly on a biofuel blend on January 30. Britain’s Virgin Atlantic Airways, Air New Zealand and Continental Airlines of the United States had earlier conducted test flights using a variety of biofuel mixes. Japan’s largest airline used a Boeing 747-300 which had one of its four engines filled with a 50-50 blend of bio-jet fuel. It carried no passengers or payload, flew at an altitude of about 10,000 meters and was made to perform normal and non-normal flight operations, which included quick accelerations and decelerations, as well as engine shutdown and re-start. JAL developed the new fuel from a blend of 84% camelina, less than 16% jatropha and about 1% algal oils, together with U.S. engine maker Pratt and Whitney. (January 30/ February 2, 2009)