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Alaska Air has paired up with Gevo to produce an alcohol-based fuel that can keep a plane in flight, while still being green.
Gevo’s patented ATJ is a clean burning, homegrown, drop-in jet fuel, which has the potential to deliver aviation biofuel at scale and at competitive costs. Alaska Air, which has set a target to use sustainable aviation biofuel at one or more of its airports by 2020, plans to fly a demonstration flight to test Gevo’s renewable jet fuel, once the company receives certification from the standards group – ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International – which is expected to come in the second half of the year.
The first ever commercial flight to use this will soon follow.
This isn’t the first foray into a greener flight.
In 2011, an electric plane was able to fly for 200 miles non-stop.
A few years ago, American tested a new method of eco-flying that used “several fuel conservation measures, including single-engine taxi on departure and arrival, continuous climb-out and descent, optimized routing over water, and a “tailored arrival.” Among those procedures are several key elements of Fuel Smart, American’s existing fuel conservation program.”
SeatGuru also has an analysis of what airlines are the most green.
As for the booze-based fuel, I’m all for it–as long as they aren’t pinching it from first class. Â And whatever makes the fuel surcharges go down!
But I’m happy that flying is becoming more efficient than other forms of transportation. Â As technology advances, it becomes more efficient–which is better all around. Â It’s good for the environment and it’s good for my wallet.
I’m just not a fan of the trend on Spirit. Â You can pay to make your flight more environmentally friendly through their GreenUp program, without really saying what it’s about.
I’d rather donate money though my own methods, or have a company just make more green efforts. Â It just seems weird to ask you to pay $5 more to make your flight green.
