Coolness: Airbus completes first test of GTL (Gas-to-Liquid) Jet Fuel

Via Air Cargo News:

During the flight, engine number one was fed with a blend of GTL and jet fuel whilst the remaining three were fed with standard jet fuel.

Under Airbus’ overall alternatives fuels research programme, this is the first step of a long-term Airbus testing phase to evaluate viable and sustainable alternative fuels for the future. GTL could be available at certain locations to make it a practical and viable drop-in alternative fuel for commercial aviation in the short-term.

Sjoerd Post, vice-president Shell Aviation, said: “We are pleased to have successfully completed this flight, which will pave the way for approval of synthetic jet fuel in the future, we are proud to be part of this consortium which is exploring cleaner fuels for the Aviation industry.”

GTL is the process of creating liquid fuel from natural gas, resulting in a fuel with greatly reduced emissions, not to mention the fact that is not petroleum-based. I admit to only a vague knowledge of GTL fuels, so here’s a link to Shell’s GTL info page: