KLM Claims First Biofuel Airline Passenger Flight

Dutch airline KLM has made the latest step in what appears to be a rush by airlines to demonstrate the use of alternative fuels. The airline made what it is calling the first passenger flight using biofuel.

KLM completed the flight with one of its Boeing 747s using a 50 percent biokerosene mix to fuel one of the airplane’s four engines. On board during the hour long flight over the Netherlands were about 40 people including journalists, politicians, and the Dutch director of the World Wildlife Fund. The flight was not a scheduled flight, just a demonstration of the ability to use of biofuels.
KLM President and CEO Peter Hartman said in a press release the flight was to show the technical feasibility of using alternative fuels for jets.

“Government, industry and society at large must now join forces to ensure that we quickly gain access to a continuous supply of biofuel.”

The company says KLM wants to develop a source of biofuels using strict financial, technological and ecological criteria.

“The food chain may not be jeopardised, and production of biokerosene should not go hand in hand with deforestation or excessive water consumption” says Hartman.

Wired