A380 superjumbo makes 'green fuel' test flight
02.02.08
An Airbus A380 super jumbo, the world's largest passenger aircraft, has become the first commercial plane to fly on 'green' fuel. It flew from Bristol to France yesterday on a three hour test flight using a new synthetic fuel said to be cleaner and more efficient than traditional kerosene.
The A380 left Filton, near Bristol, on the first flight using GTL - Gas to Liquid - to power one of its four engines. The other three of the giant plane's four engines were powered by conventional kerosene. Airbus said the flight allowed it to see how the engine responded.
Oil and gas giant Shell supplied the GTL for the flight, said on its website that for transport, it is 'a clear, clean fuel, virtually free of sulphur and aromatics and has a very high' combustion level. It also has 'significantly lower emissions of local pollutants, such as particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides.' GTL also does not deplete the world's oil supply.
One of the two pilots on board the plane, which had 'Greener, cleaner, quieter, smarter' emblazoned on its fuselage, said there appeared to have been no difference between the conventional and GTL powered engines. Fabrice Bregier, Airbus chief executive, said: 'This is the beginning of a major research programme. This new fuel ... will be available relatively soon.'
The research programme was agreed last November by Airbus, engine maker Rolls Royce, Shell and Qatar Airways. Qatar holds about 15 percent of the world's known gas reserves and Qatar Airways is aiming to be the first carrier to use the new fuel. A refinery to produce the fuel is being built by Qatar Petroleum and from 2011, all Qatar Airways planes should be using it.
Tests with GTL might open the way to the use of bio-fuels but these are not available in commercial quantities as yet - something that will take some time, Bregier said. Airbus is planning a first flight powered by bio-fuels in 2009.
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