Brazil, a leader in the American "ecoaviation"

TAM Airlines, in cooperation with Airbus, have been carried out in Latin America the first flight of an Airbus A320 using Jatropha-based biofuel. The biofuel processing by UOP LLC, Honeywell group was composed of a mixture of 50% of Jatropha- based bio-kerosene grown in Brazil and traditional kerosene. The A320, equipped with CFM56 engines, took off with 20 people on TAM Airlines Airbus Galeao International Airport Antonio Carlos Jobim, Rio de Janeiro, and made a 45-minute flight. 
 
Studies have shown that jatropha-based biofuels could reduce carbon footprint by 80%.

"Airbus and TAM have taken a big step that will lead to achieving a solution in the area of biofuels for aviation will be commercially viable and sustainable with a positive impact on the environment," said Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus. "This flight demonstrates the commitment of the aviation industry to advance the self-imposed targets for reducing CO2: neutral growth from 2020 and reducing emissions to 50% by 2050."

"This flight test involving TAM materialized in a major project to develop a production of renewable biofuels with Brazil to create an infrastructure for sustainable production of bio-kerosene for aviation," said Libano Barroso, president of TAM Airlines .

Studies show that the use of biofuels from Jatropha could reduce the carbon footprint of the aviation sector by 80% compared with traditional kerosene. TAM Airlines Airbus support the study on the viability and sustainability would have on the value chain biokerosene implementation in Brazil.

The test flight was approved by Airbus and engine maker CFM International, in addition to receiving authorization from the European Aviation Authorities (European Aviation Safety Agency - EASA) and Brazil (National Civil Aviation Agency - ANAC).

"The young and modern fleet of TAM is one of the lowest carbon footprints in the region, and marks the way forward for the rest of the sector to contribute to this cause," said Enders.

As part of its commitment to ensure that air transport remains the most eco-efficient way to travel, Airbus has developed a roadmap to get alternative biofuels and the related technology a reality for aviation. In addition to this partnership with TAM Airlines, in February 2008, an Airbus A380 completed its first flight by a commercial aircraft using Gas-to-Liquid (GTL), and in October 2009, Airbus and Qatar Airways led the first commercial flight with a mixture of 50% of GTL.