Qatar Airliner in Natural Gas Fuel Flight

The first flight involving a commercial airliner powered by natural gas has taken place – a landmark moment in the development of alternative fuel technologies.  The aircraft involved was an Airbus A340 airliner operated by Qatar Airways and the flight – which lasted six hours – was staged between London and Qatar itself. 

The Airbus did not fly entirely on natural gas, but on a hybrid mix of it and conventional fuel, blended equally.  The mix was created by Royal Dutch Shell and involved GTL (Gas to Liquid) kerosene, along with the older jet fuel. 

“Today's flight opens the door to an alternative to oil-based aviation fuel”, Shell executive director Malcolm Brinded stated on October 12th, adding: “We are now well on the way to launching GTL on a world scale for the first time.”

As the fuel burnt during the Airbus’ six-hour-long flight, lower levels of air pollutants were created – an achievement that should help lower airport air pollution.

Airline Fuel Technology 

Qatar Airways has, then, notched up a world first in terms of airline fuel technology.  Qatar Petroleum, meanwhile, is on track to become the dominant global manufacturer of GTL kerosene in three years’ time, when commercial manufacture should start to take place.  As of 2009, it stands as the main global LNG (liquefied natural gas) exporter. 

Qatar’s petroleum division is presently involved in a collaborative effort with Shell, in which the two are constructing the Pearl GTL plant. 

Natural Gas Technology

When finished, this natural gas technology plant will produce approximately one million tons of GTL each year.  This is a sufficient quantity of fuel to allow no less than 4,000 around-the-world flights (involving 250 people) to be carried out, the companies say.

Commenting on the Qatar natural gas flight, an Airbus representative described it as a “major breakthrough.” 

“[It]...brings us closer to a world where fuels made from feedstocks such as wood-chip waste and other biomass is available for commercial aviation”, Rainer Ohler stated, adding: 
“Airbus predicts that in 2030, up to 30 per cent of jet fuel will be alternative.”

At the beginning of 2009, Enviro-News reported on another alternative fuel flight – this time involving a Continental Airlines Boeing 737 which was powered by a 50-50 conventional fuel/ biofuel blend.