Air New Zealand successfully completes jatropha biodiesel flight test: eyes 10 percent conversion to B50 by 2013

An Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400 successfully completed a two-hour test flight with one engine operating on a B50 blend of jet fuel and jatropha biodiesel. Air New Zealand said that the use of its B50 blend would reduce the carbon footprint of a 747 flight operation by 25 percent.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe said: “Today we stand at the earliest stages of sustainable fuel development and an important moment in aviation history.”

The crew operated the flight over the Hauraki Gulf area bear Auckland on New Zealand’s North Island, and tested the fuels under a wide variety of conditions, including a full power take off, a climb to 25,000 feet including a fuel pump switch-off, a cruise at 35,000 feet. deceleration/acceleration, descent, engine restart without starter at 26,000 feet, engine restart at 18,000 feet with starter, approach and go around and landing. Tests showed that jatropha biodiesel has a lower freezing point than standard jet fuel.

ANZ group manager told New Zealand Radio that he hoped to have 10 percent of the airline’s flight’s powered by B50 jatropha biodiesel by 2013. The test was jointly conducted by the airline, Boeing, engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce and UOP.

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