environmental affairs

alternative fuels

ATA and our member airlines are making extensive resource commitments to stimulate the development of commercially viable, environmentally friendly alternative fuels.  As a framework for doing this, we are a founding and principal member of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), a consortium of airlines, government, manufacturers, fuel suppliers, airports, universities and other stakeholders who hold the various keys to research, development and responsible implementation of alternative jet fuels.

Developing alternative jet fuels is a “higher hurdle” than developing alternative fuels for ground-based vehicles, as jet fuel must meet rigorous specifications, which include reliability and stability at altitude and in greatly varying temperature and pressure conditions to ensure safety. Given the technical hurdles associated with developing a viable alternative jet fuel, CAAFI is an essential initiative for marshalling the resources of the government, industry and scientific research community.

While each entity involved in CAAFI has a role to play, our airlines understand that – as end users of the ultimate product – they must not only make clear their requirements for alternative jet fuels, but also signal the market that we will financially back fuels meeting those specifications.  In this regard, the ATA Board of Directors has issued the “ATA Alternative Fuels Principles.” Among other things, the Alternative Fuels Principles document stipulates that the ATA carriers require that any future alternative jet fuel be more environmentally friendly, on a life-cycle basis, than the jet fuel available today. Through CAAFI and other partnerships, we are undertaking the work to be sure that tomorrow’s alternative jet fuel meets that criterion.  Developing a more environmentally friendly alternative jet fuel will ensure the full decoupling of growth in aviation demand from growth in GHG emissions.

 

Commerical Aviation Alternative Fuels: The ATA Commitment

 

Alternative Fuels: Q & A

 

News Releases

 

 

Ø       August 2009 - Airlines Sign First-of-Its-Kind Ongoing Supply Agreement with Rentech and ASIG For Renewable Synthetic Diesel Fuel to Be Used in LAX Ground Service Equipment

        ATA announced today that eight of its member airlines have signed an unprecedented agreement with Rentech, Inc. and Aircraft Service International Group (ASIG) to purchase up to 1.5 million gallons per year of renewable synthetic diesel fuel (RenDiesel) f... 

 

Ø       August 2009 – ATA Applauds Synthetic Fuels Specification Approval

ATA applauded the ASTM International Committee on Petroleum Products and Lubricants for passing a new specification that will enable the use of synthetic fuels in aviation.

 

Ø       June 2009 – ATA Applauds ASTM International Subcommittee Passage of Synthetic Jet Fuel Specification

ATA today applauded the ASTM International Aviation Fuels Subcommittee for passing a new specification that will enable the use of synthetic fuels in aviation. This step by ASTM, a standards development organization, is a watershed event and sets the stag...

 

Ø       February 2009 – ATA Applauds Biofuel Funding Announcement

ATA hailed the announcement made jointly by the U.S. Departments of Energy (DOE) and Agriculture (USDA) to release up to $25 million in funding for research and development of biofuels, including aviation biofuels.

 

Ø     January 2009 – ATA Letter to the Editor of Biodiesel Magazine

In a February 2009 letter to the editor of Biodiesel Magazine, ATA Vice President, Environmental Affairs Nancy Young writes about how CAAFI is one of the key drivers in the search for commercially viable fuels.