NEWS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2007 – The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization representing the leading U.S. airlines, today congratulated the U.S. Air Force on completing the first transcontinental flight using synthetic jet fuel.
“This accomplishment marks an important step in the quest to enhance our nation’s energy security,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “We congratulate the Air Force and will continue to work closely to extend the use of alternative fuels to the commercial aviation sector. Just as is true with our military, it is critical that our nation’s airlines have an alternative source of energy to consider.”
On behalf of its passenger and cargo airline members, ATA is pursuing alternatives that are both economically and environmentally attractive. ATA actively supports efforts by the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, airframe and engine manufacturers, and various academic institutions – through the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative – to develop and bring alternative aviation fuels to the marketplace. For more information, see our Alternative Fuels Q&A.
ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For additional information about the industry, visit www.airlines.org.
###