U.S. and Australia agree to cooperate to develop alternative aviation fuels

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Australia’s Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism have reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue research and development of clean, sustainable alternative aviation fuels. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Australian Ambassador to the United States Kim Beazley signed the agreement today.

“Air travel is global and we need international partners to develop these innovative new fuels,” Secretary LaHood said. “Our ultimate goal is to work with all of the Asia Pacific nations to achieve a sustainable, independent energy future for aviation, and this is an exciting first step.”

The MOU calls for Australia and the United States to exchange information about policies, programs, projects, research results, and publications, and to conduct joint studies in areas such as fuel sources and environmental impacts. The memorandum also facilitates analysis of fuel source supply chains. The signing nations agree to cover the associated costs.

“The DOT and FAA are committed to making aviation as clean and as energy efficient as possible as part of our NextGen air traffic modernization goals,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “This agreement and others with our international partners will enable the FAA to better share and exchange technologies and research to attain these goals not only for U.S. aviation but air travel on the global level.”

In U.S. aviation, public, academic and private sector partnerships play a key role in developing alternative fuels through the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuel Initiative (CAAFI) and Continuous Low Energy Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) programs. More information on CAAFI and CLEEN can be found at: http://www.caafi.org or http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/research/aircraft_technology/cleen