Birds of a Feather Fly On Biofuel Together

On its way to Geneva to take its place in this year’s static display at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, Bombardier’s fleet of four demonstration aircraft (Global 6000, Challenger 650 and 350, and Learjet 75) stopped off in Amsterdam, where they were refueled with AltAir biofuel at the KLM Jet Centre for the final lap to Switzerland. AEG Fuels completed its first biofuel delivery and acted as the project lead for the occasion, which also involved sustainable aviation fuel provider SkyNRG.

“These biofuel-powered flights further demonstrate Bombardier Business Aircraft’s commitment to sustainability as an integral part of how it conducts its business,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, the airframer’s vice president and general manager for customer experience. “Ensuring and demonstrating that our products are capable and ready to support industry objectives on emissions reductions is an important part of this commitment.”

AltAir Fuels is a refiner of "environmentally sustainable feedstocks" for the production of jet and diesel fuels. According to the Paramount, California–based company, its products meet the same industry certification as the petroleum-based products they replace while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70 percent. AltAir claims that its California facility is the world’s first renewable fuels refinery with integrated jet fuel production capability.

Reseller Goes Online

Meanwhile, also exhibiting at EBACE was Valcora, a fuel reseller that is highlighting how the company "uses state-of-the-art technology to combine pricing transparency, tax expertise, a reliable fuel card, and 24/7 service to simplify fuel purchasing for business aviation customers."

"We have a great system which we developed ourselves by using our knowledge of what the market needs in terms of fuel purchasing," said Daniel Coetzer, CEO and cofounder with general manager Valerie Bouthiaux. The company says it has created "an extensive network with multiple fuel suppliers at airports where the Valcora fuel card is accepted."

The company is headquartered in Geneva and also has an office in Dublin, Ireland. "We are pleased to say that several leading European fuel suppliers have signed agreements with us," said Coetzer.