Aviation takes baby steps toward sustainable fuels

This is the most difficult industry to make sustainable, with very difficult technological and logisitcal problems (land use, food Vs fuel etc) to overcome. A bolder way forward would be to research and invest in a trans-continental network of next generation fast trains that run on renewably produced electricity.

They destroyed regions of forest to grow bio fuel so they don't have a great track record for green initiatives. Best thing is highspeed rail across land and only over water use flight. The problem is the battery not the fuel. Once we can improve upon the battery we can have realistic electric flight. Some more technologies have to come along but it won't be fuel that matters. Maybe not even a battery. For example, microwave transmission to send power to the wings of a Cessna was used in the 1980's in Canada, so it's not about ideas, just scale, and rethinking how energy is used

I had a 1946 Time magazine that had a cover story about the earth running out of oil in 10 years, even with the "new" oil finds in the middle east.

Industry officials say there also will to be a need for stronger political will world wide to encourage the use of alternative fuels.

Terribly worded, but I think this is critical. Unfortunately the US has Trump trying to turn back the clock to the 1950s to support big oil and big coal.

The air transportation sector is turning slowly toward sustainable fuels as part of the global fight against climate change.

Meanwhile airlines like Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and others owned by oil producing sheikhdoms will continue to have the greater financial advantages.

Could Musk's hyperloop or some other high speed system actually be a reality? Hopefully R&D moneys will be made available for those with realistic proposals.

"With prices for conventional fuel remaining low over the past three years, due to low crude oil prices"

Don't see this reflected in the cost of flights !!??

Maybe in 100 years we will be back to using airships which will be covered with solar panels and have batteries for night use to power electric engines.

If speed is sacrificed for efficacy then airships are better.

BUT today’s society wants to get there faster and airplanes can handle rougher weather, so airplanes will rule for now.

UK to Japan takes just over 12 hours. A hard aerodynamic shelled airship probably would take 60 hours plus.

For cargo hauling an airship could work out much cheaper, but for passengers. Who would want to spend days out of their holiday time just flying to/from their destination?

The ApartmentFeb. 14, 2017 - 08:04PM JST

"With prices for conventional fuel remaining low over the past three years, due to low crude oil prices"

Don't see this reflected in the cost of flights !!??

oil prices might have droped (for now), but they will find otherways of charging you for flying and keepoing their profits.

DOH!!! hit submint instead of preview

As more efficent airplanes are made the amount of emmisions will decrease, BUT for the increasing flights numbers will the total emissions drop in the long run ?

Oil will run out some day and alternatives will be found.

Will the total emissions out put from all comercial transport Ships and Aircraft be reduced enough to make a large difference in the short time ?

In 200 years time will we be back to sailing ships and airships ?

In most automobile company try to develop electric vehicles or FCV instead using gasoline. My opinion is, as an amateur, that is it difficult to develop electric battery or fuel cell battery that are sufficient enough to accelerate an airplane?