QANTAS Airways (Sydney) has announced it will operate Australia’s first commercial flights powered by sustainable aviation fuel on April 13, 2012.
The flights, a Sydney-Adelaide return service operated by an Airbus A330, will be powered by a biofuel derived from used cooking oil (split 50:50 with conventional jet fuel). Produced by SkyNRG, the fuel has been fully certified for use in commercial aviation. Its “life cycle” carbon footprint is around 60 per cent smaller than that of conventional jet fuel.
With high fuel costs and carbon pricing affecting airlines around the world, the QANTAS Group is taking the lead in advocating the development of a sustainable aviation fuel industry in Australia.
A 2011 study by the CSIRO, endorsed by major aviation businesses, found that such an industry is feasible and, over the next 20 years, could generate more than 12,000 jobs and decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent in the aviation sector. However, it also identified significant obstacles that must be overcome.
QANTAS’ Head of Environment, John Valastro, said the goal of the flights was to raise awareness about the potential for sustainable aviation fuel in Australia.
Flight QF 1121 will depart Sydney at 10:20 am (1020) on April 13, arriving in Adelaide at 12:05 pm (1205). The return flight, QF 1120, will depart Adelaide at 1:35 pm (1335), arriving in Sydney at 4:00 pm (1600).
Copyright Photo: John Adlard.
QANTAS Slide Show: CLICK HERE