Boeing management says to expect commercial aviation biofuels at 30 percent blend in 3 to 5 years

In Washington state, a key manager in Boeing’s alternative fuel effort predicted that biofuels will be approved for commercial use in aviation within 3 to 5 years and will be used in a 30 percent blend.  The projection follows the first test of aviation biofuels this year by Virgin Atlantic, GE and Boeing, with more tests scheduled for later this year.

Plus, Solazyme recently announced that it had succeeded in manufacturing the first viable jet fuel from algae.

A report in the Guardian relates the Boeing predictions, plus British Airways’ characterization of the Virgin trial as a “PR stunt”.  Critics continue to point to the indirect effect of land-use change from biofuels, as well as the impact of biofuel production on food prices.

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