GENEVA: Working toward sustainable biofuels for commercial flights tops the agenda at the fourth Aviation & Environment Summit in Geneva.

Also being highlighted at the global summit is technological progress, innovation, and policy and economic challenges for the aviation industry.
“The industry is facing probably the worst financial situation on record,” says summit organiser Paul Steele, who is executive director of the Air Transport Action Group, reports ETN. “Nevertheless it is impressive that nearly 400 delegates are attending this year’s summit, testament that environmental performance, along with safety, continues to be at the top of the aviation industry agenda.”

Following a series of test flights over the past year, the aviation industry is confident sustainable biofuels can be used in passenger aircraft, he says.

“We have flight-tested these exciting new fuels. They are undergoing analysis and more testing, and the industry now has to focus efforts on scaling up production and distribution so we can get enough sustainable biofuels into the tanks of our aircraft. The summit will discuss a way forward for aviation biofuels and focus on how to ensure we are supplied from sustainable sources.”

At last year’s summit industry leaders signed a declaration committing to a cross-industry approach to reducing aviation’s climate change impact. “The declaration has catalysed an even more co-ordinated approach across the aviation sector which is now showing significant results, says Steele. “This year’s summit provides a platform to demonstrate real progress on a number of exciting projects.”

Attending the event are chief executives, presidents and directors general representing all parts of the commercial aviation industry – airports, airlines, air navigation service providers and manufacturers. It is also hosting environmental organisations, governments and, for the first time, sustainable biofuel suppliers.