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Entries tagged as Environment

Thu, 8. January 2009

Continental Tests Biofuel

Continental Airlines became the first U.S. airline (and the third worldwide after Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand) to test biofuel on one of its aircraft yesterday. A 737-800W flown by Rich Jankowski and Joe O'Neill flew using a 50/50 jatropha-jet fuel blend in one engine for one and a half hours over the Gulf of Mexico after departing from Houston Bush.

The test flight included an engine shutdown and restart. Interestingly, the engine using the blend burned 3% less fuel than the one running on jet fuel. The aircraft will return to regular service today.

Posted by

Aaron Robinson

in News Items at 10:02 | No comments | No Trackbacks

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Defined tags for this entry: continental, environment

Mon, 15. December 2008

Emirates Flies World's Longest 'Green Flight'

Following earlier demonstrations by Air New Zealand and United Airlines, Emirates conducted its own 'green flight' today on its launch flight to San Francisco. Many of the fuel-saving measures on the flight are not new, but every effort is being made to optimize the flight. These measures include:
-prewashing the 777-200LR to reduce drag
-using ground electric power rather than the aircraft's APU
-priority clearance for taxi-out and departure
-a priority departure route out of Dubai
-a preferred route over Russia and Canada
-real-time updates of weather and wind and routing changes en route
-optimal routings for arrival and possibly a continuous descent approach
-single-engine tax-in
-full recycling of all on-board glass, aluminum, and paper

Posted by

Aaron Robinson

in News Items at 16:52 | No comments | No Trackbacks

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Defined tags for this entry: Emirates, Environment

Mon, 26. May 2008

KLM Joins the Biofuel Train

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announced its plan to test algae-based jet fuel in cooperation with Netherlands-based AlgaeLink. The first test flight will occur this fall. KLM indicated that if the tests are successful, KLM cityhopper's Fokker 50 fleet will fly on a part-biofuel mixture by 2010.

Posted by

Aaron Robinson

in Points of Interest at 22:00 | No comments | No Trackbacks

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Defined tags for this entry: Environment, KLM

Wed, 2. April 2008

Northwest Continues to Develop EarthCares Program

Northwest Airlines recently gave the first third of a $1 million gift to The Nature Conservancy, one of the world's largest conservation organizations. Northwest announced its EarthCares program in December as part of its commitment to environmental protection. As part of the opening gift, 33 Northwest employees planted 800 trees in Louisiana to sequester carbon dioxide. Northwest's environmental efforts are featured in this month's issue of WorldTraveler, Northwest's in-flight magazine.

More information on EarthCares is available here.

Posted by

Aaron Robinson

in Points of Interest at 04:02 | No comments | No Trackbacks

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Defined tags for this entry: Environment, Northwest

Mon, 17. March 2008

Continental to Test Biofuel

Continental Airlines is joining the quest for renewable fuels, announcing that they are partnering with Boeing and General Electric to test biofuel in the first half of 2009 on one of its 737NGs. The airline and its partners will "identify sustainable fuel sources that don't impact food crops, water resources or contribute to deforestation." This follows Airbus' A380 and Virgin Atlantic's 747-400 biofuel tests last month. Later this year, Air New Zealand will test biofuel on one of its 747-400s.

Curiously, the engines in question are CFM engines. CFM is a 50/50 joint venture between GE and Snecma. So why wasn't Snecma mentioned?

Posted by

Aaron Robinson

in News Items at 02:43 | No comments | No Trackbacks

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Defined tags for this entry: Continental, Environment

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