Sustainability and Environment
Viability of Aviation Biofuels Remains Distant, Say Experts
The main challenge remains economics but organizing collection of raw materials also presents difficulties.
Air France uses 10 percent of biofuel on a weekly Toulouse-Paris flight.
Air France uses 10 percent of biofuel on a weekly Toulouse-Paris flight.

Biofuels for aviation continue to face multiple challenges, the most daunting of which centers on ways to make production economical, according to a recent report jointly released by the French Académie des Technologies and Académie de l'Air et de l'Espace. The experts admit the environmental benefit, although proven in principle, is difficult to quantify. They consider hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA) made from vegetable oil the only option immediately available.