Air NZ set to pioneer biofuel for airliners with Auckland flight

By NZPA

Friday 28th September 2007

Air New Zealand says it will play a world-leading role in efforts by aircraft manufacturer Boeing and engine maker Rolls-Royce to develop more environmentally friendly fuel for commercial aircraft.

Issues around "carbon footprints" and the use of fossil fuels are expected to be crucial to the future of New Zealand's biggest industrial sector, tourism. Some of New Zealand's key tourism markets are 20,000km away, and a Boeing 747 uses 16 tonnes of fuel just to take off, the equivalent of running six family cars for a year.

Air New Zealand said today it will work with the plane and engine makers on projects aimed at making commercial aviation more environmentally sustainable.

Its first step will be the first commercial trial -- out of Auckland -- of a bio-fuelled, Rolls-Royce powered, Boeing aircraft toward the second half of next year or early 2009. The Boeing 747 flight, which is likely to depart Auckland and will not carry customers, will be conducted under strict safety standards.

Only one engine will run on a blended biofuel/kerosene mix and the remaining three will be powered by regular aviation fuel. An announcement on the source and mix of the blended fuel will be made closer to the time of the flight.

Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe said that as little as a year ago biofuel seemed like "pie in the sky" to many aviation industry observers, but it was now a possibility.

The technology was moving so fast that it may become viable in a much shorter timeframe than previously thought, he said.

"Air New Zealand is keen to encourage research into alternative fuels and wants to work hand-in-hand with industry partners and the New Zealand Government on promoting this type of activity," he said.

Air New Zealand would like to progress to an all-NZ biofuel for future tests flights, but sourcing the quantity necessary may be a challenge in the short term, he said.

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