Air Canada Makes Plane Run on Recycled Cooking Oil

Two days ago, Air Canada's AC991 flight from Toronto to Mexico City qualified as the company's most environmentally friendly air trip so far.

This is because the plane used 50% biofuel made from cooking oil to complete its journey.

Apparently, Air Canada's green flight is part of an environmental demonstration put together by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Their end goal is to draw attention to the fact that green ways of air traveling are well within our reach, and that all we have to do is take a little time to look at the resources we have at our disposal.

As Tree Hugger explains, although both by improving on the fuel-efficiency of planes, and by cutting down on unnecessary flying time, companies such as Air Canada can indeed reduce their ecological footprint, the best thing to do is to gradually switch to carbon-neutral fuels.

The same source reports that Duncan Dee, Air Canada's executive vice president, told the press that “Air Canada fully accepts its responsibility to reduce its footprint and our first flight using biofuel tangibly demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the environment.”

SkyNRG, the company having produced the biofuel used to power the AC991 flight, resorted to recycled cooking oil as its raw material.

What is interesting is that, regardless of this peculiarity, the aircraft's systems need not be modified so as to be compatible with this new, environmentally friendly type of energy source.

Air Canada's Media Center explains how “Flight AC991 from Toronto to Mexico City is expected to generate at least 40 per cent fewer emissions by using jet fuel derived from recycled cooking oil and through other fuel-saving measures.”

From where we stand, Air Canada's achievement is a praise-worthy one.

As well as this, we believe that, with proper media attention, the company will succeed in getting its message across.