ATA Commends U.S. Government Initiative to Enhance Commercial Viability of Advanced Biofuels

WASHINGTON, August 16, 2011 – The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today commended the announcement of the U.S. departments of Agriculture and Energy, and the Navy to invest up to $510 million over three years in a public-private partnership to produce advanced drop-in aviation and marine biofuels as part of the administration’s plan for enabling America’s energy security.

“This initiative is crucial to help turn the promise of advanced aviation biofuels into reality, enhancing America’s energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs,” said ATA President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. “We already know how to produce and safely fly aviation biofuels, so the government investment will help clear the last hurdle and make the fuels commercially viable.

ATA remains committed to doing its part through its ongoing initiatives, including the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), the Strategic Alliance for Alternative Fuels with the U.S. military, and the Farm-to-Fly program with the USDA and Boeing, to further the development and deployment of sustainable alternative aviation fuels. “The USDA, the DOE and the Navy are doing what the federal government did in jump-starting the Internet, satellite systems and other backbone infrastructure – working with industry to help make these ventures self-sustaining,” Calio said.