Beginning next September, Europe's biggest commercial airline, Air France-KLM, will begin using a mixture of oil and used oil to fuel a few of its flights. It is going to be a huge step in the direction of lessening the world's reliance on petroleum and fossil fuels. The business has likely had to take out a lot of short term installment loans to get the venture completed.

Over 200 flights will use alternative fuels

Over 200 scheduled flights between Paris and Amsterdam will be the first to use the alternative fuel. Oil is old to create biokerosene. When it comes to chemicals, it is almost the same as the kerosene traditionally used. There won't be any modification necessary to utilize it for airliners. There won't be any additional danger to flying either. Refined fuel may come from many areas. Animal fat, vegetable oil and grease are all integrated.

The way biokerosene will change flight

Biokerosene can change how commercial flight works as reported by Air France-KLM managing director Camiel Eurlings:

"In November 2009 we demonstrated that it was technically possible to fly on biokerosene," he said. "Now, a year and a half after our first demonstration flight on Camelina, a new phase has been entered around the world, that of certification. Authorization will soon be granted to operate commercial flights on biofuel."

Handing out incentives at the government

A decision was made in 2007 by the International Air Transport Association. It decided that it wanted the air travel emissions to, by 2050, have no carbon dioxide in them. And last year, the French government declared a major renewable energy investment plan. The plan will consist of $577 million in subsidies. There is going to be a ton of low-interest loans made out too. This $1.15 billion is going to be spent on "cutting edge technology projects."

The construction, manufacturing and transportation industries all have international standards developed by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). The ASTM said that biofuels and conventional fuels could be mixed on June 9. The percentage of biokerosene to traditional kerosene that is to be used by Air France-KLM remains uncertain at this time.

All the costs

The biggest obstacle to 100 percent use of biofuels, as reported by Eurlings, is still cost.

"The costs of biofuels need to come down substantially and permanently. This can be achieved through innovation, collaboration and the right legislation that stimulates biofuel in the airline industry -- but with an eye on honest competition."

Citations

Glove Box

blog.arguscarhire.com/france-to-power-airplanes-with-cooking-oil/

Edmonton Journal

edmontonjournal.com/travel/France planes cooking September/4991927/story.html

Mother Nature Network

mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/blogs/air-france-to-power-planes-with-cooking-oil