Green jet fuel from Honeywell powers first transatlantic biofuel flight

The first international flight to be fuelled by biofuels successfully landed at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on 18 June 2011.

The Gulfstream G450 became the first aircraft to fly from North America to Europe using a 50/50 blend of Honeywell's green jet fuel and petroleum-based jet fuel, which powered one of the aircraft's Rolls Royce engines.

The energy crop camelina was used to produce the biofuel, which was cultivated by US-based Sustainable Oils, a provider of camelina-based technology.

The aeroplane took off from Morristown, New Jersey airport at 9pm before landing in Paris seven hours later.

Honeywell's green jet fuel reduced the CO2 emissions given off from the aircraft by 5.5 tonnes compared to the same flight powered by petroleum-based fuel.

'This first biofuel trip across the Atlantic, along with more than a dozen other commercial and military test flights conducted to date, demonstrates that Honeywell green jet fuel more than meets the demanding requirements for air travel,' says Jim Rekoske, vice president and general manager of Renewable Energy and Chemicals for Honeywell's UOP. 'Now that the initial ASTM International approval is in place, we are one step closer to commercial use that will help the aviation community reduce its carbon footprint and dependence on crude.'