Virgin Atlantic Completes World’s First Biofuel Flight

Britain’s Virgin Atlantic Airlines announced it had flown one of its Boeing 747 jumbo jets from London to Amsterdam using a renewable biofuel composed of Brazilian babassu and coconut oils. The flight represents the first time a commercial airline has completed a biofuel-powered flight.  

The company said no modifications were made to either the aircraft or its engines to enable the passenger-less flight to take place.

Biofuels are fuels made from living things, such as corn. The Virgin Atlantic flight used coconut and babassu oils that are found in everyday cosmetic products, such as lip balm and shaving cream, and do not compete with staple food sources.

Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Executive Sir Richard Branson said its flight marked a vital breakthrough for the entire airline industry.

"This pioneering flight will enable those of us who are serious about reducing our carbon emissions to go on developing the fuels of the future," he added.

However, some environmentalists have called the flight a publicity stunt, claiming that biofuel cultivation is not sustainable.

But Branson said fully commercial biofuel flights would probably use feedstocks such as algae rather than the mix used on the flight.

Virgin Atlantic said it believes commercial airlines could consistently fly on plant power within the next 10 years. However, the technology behind such biofuel powered flights is still being developed by companies GE and Boeing.   There are special considerations for using biofuels to power aircraft.  For example, biofuels are more likely to freeze at high altitudes.   

The Virgin Atlantic flight had one of its four engines connected to an independent biofuel tank that it said could provide 20% of the engine’s power. Had there been a problem, the three other engines were capable of powering the plane.

While many cheered the Virgin flight, some environmentalists have frowned on the development.   

Kenneth Richter of Friends of the Earth said the flight was a "gimmick", and distracted from real solutions to climate change.  He told BBC News, "If you look at the latest scientific research it clearly shows biofuels do very little to reduce emissions.”

"At the same time we are very concerned about the impact of the large-scale increase in biofuel production on the environment and food prices worldwide.

"What we need to do is stop this mad expansion of aviation. At the moment it is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases in the UK, and we need to stop subsidizing the industry."

Dr. Doug Parr, chief scientist for Greenpeace’s, called the flight a "high-altitude greenwash" and said less air travel was the only answer.

"Instead of looking for a magic green bullet, Virgin should focus on the real solution to this problem and call for a halt to relentless airport expansion," he said in a BBC News report.

In addition to Virgin Atlantic, other carriers are also considering the use of renewable fuels.   Earlier this month, Airbus tested a synthetic mix of a gas-to-liquid alternative fuel on its A380, the world’s largest passenger jet.   The three-hour flight from Filton to Toulouse took place February 1st, and was part of an ongoing research program analyzing the use of alternative fuels.

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