Virgin Atlantic First To Fly Using Bio-Fuel

Virgin Atlantic Airways will be test flying a 747 aeroplane powered by bio-fuel. This is a first in commercial aviation and is 10 months ahead of schedule. This test flight, planned for next month will be without passengers.

The 747 will fly from Heathrow to Amsterdam with no passengers on board, using a "truly sustainable" type of biofuel that does not compete with food and fresh water resources, according to the airline.

"Flying our 747 on bio-fuel 10 months earlier than planned is a major breakthrough," said Sir Richard Branson CEO of Virgin. The details of the bio-fuel, which are currently secret, will be released next month. The test flight will run on a blended mix of bio-fuel and kerosene, with at least 25 percent coming from the alternative fuel. The test flight, is part of a joint project involving the carrier, The Boeing Co. and engine producer General Electric Co.

"This breakthrough will help Virgin Atlantic to fly its planes using clean fuel sooner than expected.

"The demonstration flight next month will give us crucial knowledge that we can use to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint.

"Virgin Group pledged to invest all its profits from its transportation companies towards developing clean energy and with this breakthrough we are well down the path to achieving our goals." said Sir Richard

The bio-fuel is not thought to be ethanol - which is understood not to burn well at high altitude.

Biofuels - principally ethanol and diesel made from plants - are one of the few viable options for replacing the liquid fuels derived from petroleum that are used in transport, the source of about one quarter of the our greenhouse gas emissions.

However, the BBC reports that while biofuels may play a role in curbing climate change, Britain's Royal Society claims they may create environmental problems unless implemented with care.

In a new report, the Society suggests current EU and UK policies are not guaranteed to reduce emissions.

It advocates more research into all aspects of biofuel production and use.

The report says the British government should use financial incentives to ensure companies adopt cutting-edge and carbon-efficient technologies. (Presumably, financial penalties could play a part too).

"Biofuels could play an important role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions from transport, both in Britain and globally," said Professor John Pickett from Rothamsted Research, who chaired the Royal Society's study.

"But it would be disastrous if biofuel production made further inroads into biological diversity and natural ecosystems.

"We must not create new environmental or social problems in our efforts to deal with climate change."

Not only are the airlines using this technology. In mid 2007, Virgin trains began a six-month trial of a passenger train using bio-fuel, an experiment the company said could lead it to switch its fleet to a mix of diesel and bio-fuel.