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GENEVA (AFP)--The international airline industry body IATA is
aiming to approve biofuels for commercial flights by 2010 or 2011,
its chief Giovanni Bisignani said Tuesday.
Bisignani told a civil aviation industry meeting recent tests by
Continental Airlines Inc. (CAL), Japan Airline Corp. (9205.TO), Air
New Zealand Ltd. (AIR.NZ) and Virgin had shown that "next
generation sustainable" clean burning biofuels worked.
"We have made amazing progress, certification by 2010 or 2011 is
now a real possibility," Bisignani said.
However, such biofuels would still need to be produced in
commercially viable quantities with common quality standards, and
suppliers worldwide would also need to be equipped for storage.
"Commercial production should be a priority for governments
encouraged by effective incentives in tax and regulatory
frameworks," Bisignani told the Aviation and Environment
Summit.
Biofuels are controversial as critics say widespread production
could affect foodcrops and exacerbate global shortages.
U.S. aircraft maker Boeing's environmental strategy chief Bill
Glover estimated biofuel blends with jet fuel could cut emissions
by 50% without the need to change aircraft.
Certification is widely regarded as a first technical step that
could eliminate some of the investment uncertainties that cloud the
use of high quality biofuels in aviation.
However, industry executives underlined that some other hurdles,
including cost and supply, were still significant.
"We're now in a situation where the commercial viability is
extremely questionable," said Andrew Herdman, head of the
Association of Asia Pacific Airlines.
Prices for crops or feedstocks for biofuels were more than twice
that of a barrel of oil currently, while one airline involved in
testing even had trouble finding enough of the high quality
product, he added.
Bisignani said a drop in air traffic was likely to account for
the bulk of cuts in carbon emissions from civil aviation in
2009.
Of the 7.8% reduction forecast this year, 6% is expected to be
from reduced traffic due to the economic crisis.
IATA said its environmental audit had identified immediate fuel
savings ranging between three and 12% that could be made at
individual airlines.