Airbus and Other Aviation Heavies Team Up to Develop Altenative Fuel

Airbus is jumping into the alternative fuel fray, partnering with Honeywell, International Aero Engines, UOP, and JetBlue to develop technology that would turn algae and vegetable oils into alternative fuel. Airbus is thinking/hoping that this technology could provide up to 30 percent of all jet fuel by 2030.

Each of the project's partners bring something to the table. Airbus is one of the world's largest commercial jet makers , so its involvement will help drive acceptance of the initiative. UOP, a gas and chemical processing company, already has some jet fuel expertise -- they've developed technology to convert natural gasses and oils to military jet fuel as part of a project funded by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) -- and they say this technology could be modified for commercial jets.

As for the other partners in the project, International Aero Engines builds the engines that power many of Airbus' planes, Honeywell is providing its engine technology expertise, and Jetblue will be the ones that actually test potential fuels on the ground and in-flight.

The announcement from Airbus and friends is just the latest in a string of recent big-aviation-goes-green type news: a Boeing-produced biofuel was recently tested on a highly publicized Virgin Atlantic flight, and a Boeing/GE/Continental Airlines alternative jet fuel test is also forthcoming.

There's no denying that any effort to sink time and money into new fuel development is a good thing, but some environmentalists see the recent Virgin test as nothing more than a big publicity stunt designed to make the airline look good. They point out that any benefits generated by the use of jet biofuels would be completely offset by just one year of aviation growth at its current rates.

And it does seem that these types of announcements give the industry a chance to regurgitate the same set of environment-friendly soundbites. "Biofuels are the future, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, contrail formation, retc., etc.," says Airbus of the new partnership. “We believe this joint effort...has the potential to significantly decrease pollutants,” crows Honeywell. But for sheer loquaciousness, JetBlue's take on the project takes the cake, with the airline's CEO saying: "This has the potential to benefit every world citizen beyond those involved in our business."

That's a big promise. You guys better get on it.