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Airline in first biofuel flight Airline in first biofuel flight
(about 1 hour later)
The first flight by a commercial airline to be powered partly by biofuels is to take off from London. The first flight by a commercial airline to be powered partly by biofuel is to take off from London.
The Virgin Atlantic flight, to Amsterdam, will not have any passengers on board. Billed as a green fuel breakthrough, the Virgin Atlantic flight to Amsterdam will not have any passengers on board.
The airline says the flight is an important milestone in the development of greener fuels. Earlier this month, Airbus used the world's largest passenger jet, the A380 to flight test another alternative fuel - a synthetic mix of gas-to-liquid.
But many environmentalists say cultivating the fuel is not sustainable and will lead to deforestation and reduced land for food. Many environmentalists argue that cultivating biofuel is not sustainable and will lead to reduced land for food.
The Boeing 747 will have one of its four engines connected to an independent tank filled with biofuel. Virgin's Boeing 747 will have one of its four engines connected to an independent tank filled with biofuel, which is derived from plants.
This reduces risk to the flight because there are three other engines which can power the plane using conventional fuel if there is a problem.This reduces risk to the flight because there are three other engines which can power the plane using conventional fuel if there is a problem.
The three-hour Airbus flight from Filton near Bristol to Toulouse on 1 February was part of an ongoing research programme.
'Gimmick''Gimmick'
Virgin has so far refused to say what biofuel is being used. Virgin has so far refused to say what its biofuel is made from.
One problem with flying planes using biofuel is that it is more likely to freeze at high altitude.One problem with flying planes using biofuel is that it is more likely to freeze at high altitude.
The technology is still being manufactured by companies GE and Boeing, but Virgin believes within 10 years airlines could routinely be flying on plant power.The technology is still being manufactured by companies GE and Boeing, but Virgin believes within 10 years airlines could routinely be flying on plant power.
Kenneth Richter, biofuels campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said the flight was a "gimmick", distracting from real solutions to climate change. Kenneth Richter, of Friends of the Earth, said the flight was a "gimmick", distracting from real solutions to climate change.
BIOFUELS They are any fuels made from living thingsCommonly means fuel made from crops including cornPioneers such as Henry Ford designed cars to run on biofuels Quick guide: BiofuelsBIOFUELS They are any fuels made from living thingsCommonly means fuel made from crops including cornPioneers such as Henry Ford designed cars to run on biofuels Quick guide: Biofuels
"If you look at the latest scientific research it clearly shows biofuels do very little to reduce emissions. At the same time we are very concerned about the impact of the large scale increase in biofuel production on the environment and food prices worldwide," he said."If you look at the latest scientific research it clearly shows biofuels do very little to reduce emissions. At the same time we are very concerned about the impact of the large scale increase in biofuel production on the environment and food prices worldwide," he said.
"What we need to do is stop this mad expansion of aviation at the moment it is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases in the UK and we need to stop subsidising the industry.""What we need to do is stop this mad expansion of aviation at the moment it is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases in the UK and we need to stop subsidising the industry."
Paul Charles of Virgin Atlantic says it would reveal the biofuel after the flight but it was one which did not compete with staple food resources.Paul Charles of Virgin Atlantic says it would reveal the biofuel after the flight but it was one which did not compete with staple food resources.
"Some of us in the industry are doing something about reducing our carbon emissions, I don't think that's a gimmick - it's progress," he said."Some of us in the industry are doing something about reducing our carbon emissions, I don't think that's a gimmick - it's progress," he said.
"This is about progress and reducing carbon emissions and that should be welcomed.""This is about progress and reducing carbon emissions and that should be welcomed."