China: Production of oil-eaten aircraft

On April 24, China successfully conducted the first test flight using self-produced biofuels, mostly palm oil and recycled cooking oil.

China Eastern Airlines's A320 aircraft landed safely at Hongquao International Airport in Shanghai after completing an 85-minute biofuel flight made by Sinopec Refinery.

The successful test flight has made China the fourth country after the United States, France and Finland to produce biofuels for their aircraft.

Capt. Liu and pilot Chu Xiaoqing said biofuels produced sufficiently for test flights were no different from traditional fuels.

China's General Administration of Civil Aviation has praised this success as an important step toward China's research and development of jet fuel.

Just a few more tests, Sinopec will be China's first license to commercialize biofuels. Sinopec announced it would accelerate its commercial use of biofuels with the support of its stakeholders. Currently, the cost of refining biofuels for aircraft is higher than conventional fuel prices, but biofuels will be a major trend in the future.

With consumption of about 20 million tons a year, China has become a major fuel consumer for aircraft. Therefore, the development of biofuels will help to reduce the pressure on resources and limit the emission of carbon dioxide in the industry.

As predicted by the International Air Transport Association, biofuels will account for 30% of the aviation fuel demand by 2020.