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Porter Airlines To
Conduct Canada's First Biofuel Powered Revenue Flight By Shane Nolan |
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March 25, 2012 - In mid-April, Porter Airlines plans to use one of its Bombardier Q400 turboprop airliners to conduct the first biofuel powered revenue flight in Canada.
On
February 9, 2012, in preparation for Porter's upcoming
flight, a Bombardier Q400 turboprop test aircraft became
the first aircraft in Canada to fly on the American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D7566
bio-derived jet fuel, which was recently certified. "We are timing our biofuel powered flight close to Earth Day to emphasize the contribution that biofuels are expected to make in helping the aviation industry meet its targeted reduction in emissions," said Robert Deluce, President and Chief Executive Officer, Porter Airlines. |
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"Q400 and
Q400 NextGen aircraft are already among the 'greenest' aircraft
in the world and the use of biofuel will make the aircraft even
more environmentally conscious." Porter's biofuel-powered
revenue flight will utilize a 50/50 blend of biofuel with Jet A1
fuel. The biofuel portion is derived from the oilseed crop,
Camelina sativa* (49 per cent) and Brassica carinata (one per
cent).
"The
two-hour preparatory flight was flawless and the bio-derived
fuel performed as expected," said Mike Arcamone, President,
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "During the flight, the Q400
aircraft successfully undertook several maneuvers including
engine-out climbs, rapid engine accelerations and cruising to
verify the performance of the aircraft while using the
bio-derived fuel."
Other key
partners in the biofuel program, which was first announced in
2010, include Saskatchewan-based Targeted Growth Canada (TGC),
the producer of the crop of Camelina sativa and Pratt & Whitney
Canada, the manufacturer of the PW150A engines that power the
Q400 aircraft. Funding for the program is being provided by the
partners as well as by the Green Aviation Research & Development
Network (GARDN). The Q400 turboprop airliner, which is built at Bombardier's Toronto, Ontario facility, is the advanced successor to Bombardier's Dash 8/Q-Series family of aircraft. Optimized for short-haul operations, the "comfortably greener," 70- to 80-seat Q400 aircraft is a large, fast, quiet and fuel-efficient turboprop. It provides an ideal balance of passenger comfort and operating economics with a reduced environmental footprint. |
Setting new
environmental standards, the Q400 aircraft uses 30 to 40 per cent less
fuel and produces 30 to 40 per cent fewer emissions on routes where it
has replaced similar-capacity, older jets. Overall, the Q400 aircraft is
15 decibels quieter than ICAO Chapter 4 noise standards; raising the bar
for the entire industry.
Founded in 2006,
Porter Airlines has revolutionized short-haul flying with a warm and
effortless approach to hospitality and restoring glamour and refinement
to air travel. An Official 4 Star Airline in the World Airline Star
Rating by Skytrax, and rated second in the world in Cond? Nast
Traveler's Readers Choice Awards Top Small Airlines category, Porter is
committed to providing a premium travel experience. Complimentary
amenities include luxurious airport lounges, Starbucks coffee, premium
snacks, and wine or beer onboard.
The airline
currently offers flights to Toronto, Ottawa, Montr?al, Qu?bec City,
Moncton, Halifax, St. John's, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury,
Timmins, Windsor, New York (Newark), Chicago (Midway), Boston (Logan),
Washington, D.C., and has seasonal flights to Mt. Tremblant, Que.,
Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Burlington, Vt. |
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