Boeing 787 Dreamliner makes first transpacific flight using biofuel
Apr 18, 2012, 5:13 AM | Updated: 6:42 am
A Boeing 787 flight between Everett and Tokyo was the first transpacific flight powered in part using biofuel. (Image courtesy of Boeing)
(Image courtesy of Boeing)
A Boeing Dreamliner flight made history this week. The flight between Everett and Tokyo was the first transpacific flight powered in part using biofuel.
“The 787 is the most environmentally progressive jetliner flying today, combining fuel efficiency and comfort with reduced carbon emissions,” said Billy Glover, Commercial Airplanes Vice President of Environment and Aviation Policy.
Powered by the biofuel, made up mainly of used cooking oil, the 787 emitted 30 percent fewer emissions than a typical plane of that size. Boeing said 10 percent of that reduction is due to the use of biofuel, the remaining reduction is due to the design of the Dreamliner.
Boeing’s Terrance Scott said biofuels are efficient and have promise as an alternative to petroleum-based jet fuel.
“Aviation biofuels is one of those areas where we thought something would take ten years to do. We did it in two,” said Scott. “That’s very exciting.”
Scott said Boeing is joining with two dozen major airlines to develop alternative fuel sources.
“One of the biggest operating expenditures now for an airline is the cost of fuel,” said Scott. “If we can help give them alternatives, hopefully in the very near future, hopefully that will bring down the cost of travel by removing some of that fluctuation that you see in the price of oil out in the markets today.”
Scott said the industry goal is to have all aviation fuel contain one percent biofuel by 2015.
