Travel Health & Environment Watch

Airguide Online, Nov 17, 2008

Nov 17, 2008

International Air Carrier Assn. urged the European Parliament to reject amendments adopted last month by its Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety relating to the inclusion of aviation in the continental emissions trading scheme, and said the gradual increase in the percentage of emissions certificates auctioned (to 100% in 2020) will cost affected airlines "an unaffordable" [euro]8 billion ($10.04 billion) per year. IACA's appeal comes ahead of the parliament's plenary vote on the climate change package scheduled early next month. Nov 14, 2008

Imposing overly stringent climate legislation in Europe will simply drive away business, jobs and emissions to other countries, according to the findings of a new air transport industry-sponsored report. Inclusion of Aviation in the EU ETS: Cases for Carbon Leakage, by consultancy Ernst & Young, argues that aviation's inclusion within the European Union's emissions trading scheme will have a significant financial and economic impact on airlines, especially EU-based carriers - and carry the risk of international carriers completely bypassing the EU. Nov 10, 2008

U.S. officials say an EU mandate requiring airlines to cut carbon emissions by 3% starting in 2012 will likely lead to a legal challenge. Carl Burleson, director of the FAA's Office of Environment and Energy, says the new policy violates international law. "Masquerading under the banner of supposedly 'protecting' the environment, these measures threaten to stifle the growth of the industry, compromise our environmental progress and, ultimately, raise prices for consumers, leaving them to take alternative, less safe, higher-emitting modes of transportation," warned Air Transport Association President and CEO James May. Nov 10, 2008

Air New Zealand, Boeing

Air New Zealand has set Dec. 3 for a trans-Pacific test flight partially powered by biofuel. A Boeing 747-400 will burn a 50-50 blend of traditional jet fuel and fuel made from jatropha oil in one of its four Rolls-Royce engines. Jatropha trees can grow on lands not suitable for farming, and their inedible nuts are high in oil. Boeing spokesman Terrance Scott said one purpose of the flight is to prove that enough jatropha fuel can be sourced at an economical cost. The biofuel for the flight was made from jatropha trees on lands where other crops could not be grown in India and southeastern Africa. Airlines are not able to burn ethanol as an alternative fuel because it freezes too easily. Nov 11, 2008

Air New Zealand, Boeing, Rolls-Royce

The world's first commercial aviation test flight powered by a sustainable second-generation biofuel will take place on Dec. 3. The jatropha-based fuel for the Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400 test flight out of Auckland, New Zealand, has been certified as suitable for use by Rolls-Royce. Chris Lewis, company specialist for fuels at Rolls-Royce, said the fuel is a 50-50 blend of standard Jet A1 fuel and synthetic paraffinic kerosene derived from jatropha oil. The test flight is a joint initiative between Air New Zealand, Boeing, Rolls-Royce and UOP, a Honeywell company, as part of commercial aviation's drive for more sustainable air travel for future generations. The jatropha oil Air New Zealand has sourced and refined for its test flight comes from South Eastern Africa (Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania) and India. www.airnewzealand.com Nov 14, 2008

United Airlines

United Airlines will operate the second ASPIRE (Asia and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions) flight on Nov. 14 from Sydney to San Francisco, following in the footsteps of Air New Zealand, which flew "ASPIRE 1" with a 777-200ER two months ago. Nov 13, 2008

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