Interjet and Airbus are scheduled to conduct the first Jatropha-based bio-fuel flight in Mexico today using an Airbus A320 aircraft. The bio-fuel is made from locally sourced Jatropha plant harvested in the southern state of Chiapas. The aim of the demonstration flight and the project is to speed up the commercialization of aviation bio-fuel in Mexico.
The A320 flight is planned from Mexico City’s International Airport to Angel Albino Corzo of Tuxtla Gutierrez airport in the southern State of Chiapas, with one of the two CFM engines using 30% bio-fuel. The Jatropha bio-fuel has been processed by Honeywell’s UOP.
The project is being supported by Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (SCT), Airports and Auxiliary Services (ASA), the State of Chiapas, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), CFM and Airbus to ensure the bio-fuel meets all specification for flight without any changes to the aircraft or engines. CO2 life cycle studies show that Jatropha has the potential to reduce the overall CO2 footprint by up to 80% over standard aviation kerosene.
Earlier this week, the Spanish government, Iberia Airlines and Airbus signed an agreement to develop a complete Spanish value chain for sustainable and renewable aviation bio-fuel for commercial use. Other key members are expected to join the agreement shortly. Signatories to the agreement signed in Madrid include Isaías Táboas, Spain’s Transport Secretary of State, Suárez, Antonio Vazquez, Iberia Airlines Chairman, and Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO.
The agreement promotes and backs initiatives to develop a complete bio-fuel production chain for Spanish aviation, using sustainable resources from production to consumption in commercial aviation, with special consideration on economic and technical analysis.
The value chain brings together farmers, oil-refiners and airlines to spearhead the commercialization of sustainable bio-fuel production. Phase one of the project will be the feasibility study. Phase two, will narrow down the most promising solutions to a demonstration level, and phase three from 2014 onwards will look at implementation and scaling up of the production process.
The initiative is being lead by the Air Safety State-Agency (AESA) and the Services and Studies for Air Navigation and Aeronautical Safety/Observatory of Sustainability in Aviation (SENASA/OBSA), under the Ministries of the Environment, of Public works and of the Industry.