United Airlines pioneers first commercial low-carbon flight

The aviation industry has moved a step closer to delivering low-carbon travel following the successful completion of United Airlines' first commercial flight using an "ultra-clean" fuel made from synthetic gas.

The airline flew an Airbus 319 last Friday carrying 19 passengers, with one of the jet's two engines filled with a 40/60 mix of synthetic jet fuel.

The fuel was developed by engineering firm Rentech, which claims that its certified "ultra-clean" fuels are more efficient than traditional petroleum-derived low-sulphur diesel and generate lower levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

The company's technology uses the Fischer-Tropsch process to turn synthetic gases produced from either biomass, waste material or fossil fuels into a liquid jet fuel.

As well as reducing carbon emissions, the fuel also promises to limit ground-level pollution as the fuel cuts particulate matter emissions from an idling aircraft engine by 96 per cent.

Rentech said that in addition to providing environmental benefits, the fuel can cut costs for airlines by enhancing efficiency and allowing aircraft to take off carrying less fuel.

Results and analysis of the performance and environmental benefits of the synthetic jet fuel are expected within the next 10 days, although United Airlines has already hailed the flight as a significant step in the advancement of alternative jet fuels.

"This flight confirms our assumptions about how this fuel performs on a commercial aircraft and is the next step in our effort to stimulate competition in the aviation fuel supply chain, promote energy security, environmental benefits, and the creation of green jobs," said Joseph Kolshak, United Airlines senior vice president of operations. "We urge the US government and the investment community to further support critical energy opportunities."

Last year United, along with more than 15 other passenger and cargo carriers, signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to lead to future supply agreements for certified synthetic jet fuel and for jet fuel derived from camelina oil, a next-generation biofuel feedstock.

The flight also marks a further milestone for Rentech, which is working on a major new refinery in California and last year announced that it had signed a sizeable supply deal with the airport operator that controls LAX.