ATA happy with ASTM biofuels approval

The Air Transport Association (ATA), the US airline trade organisation, says it is pleased with the ASTM International Committee on Petroleum Products and Lubricants for giving the go ahead for a new jet fuel specification to push for aviation biofuels.

‘The committee endorsement of this specification is significant for all consumers of jet fuel, bringing the airline industry one step closer to widespread production of cleaner, alternative fuels that will help meet our environmental goals while enhancing the security and competitiveness of our energy supply,’ says ATA president and CEO Nicholas Calio.

A committee of experts at ASTM recently approved the addition of a new bio-derived jet fuel annex to the alternative jet fuel specification D7566, meaning the technical review process is now over. This new specification will allow biofuels derived from biomass feedstocks such as camelina, jatropha or algae, in combination with conventional jet fuel, to be used with up to a 50 percent blend.

‘This standard provides another pathway for alternative jet fuel production, and will enable increased commercial production,’ says Calio. ‘At the same time, we continue to explore other pathways that may be able to meet the rigorous criteria needed under the jet fuel specification.’