Additional testing included materials compatibility testing, which determines if any aircraft parts are affected by the use of F-T fuel, cold weather testing, additional engine testing and operation of ground equipment with F-T fuel. After two additional flights with two engines burning the synthetic fuel blend, a final B-52 flight with all eight engines was successfully conducted with all operational flight parameters and metrics being met.

The acquisition of these 315,000 gallons of synthetic fuel this year is one more step toward meeting the Air Force goal of testing and certifying the entire fleet for use of the fuel by 2010. Additional acquisitions of synthetic fuel will be made for testing and certification over the next three years. The ultimate goal of the Air Force is to acquire 50 percent of its [Continental United States] fuel by 2016 from domestic sources producing a synthetic fuel-blend and using carbon capture and sequestration technology.

—William C. Anderson, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment & Logistics

As part of the approval process for the use of F-T synthetic fuels in aircraft, DESC, the US Air Force and the other military departments participate on a commercial working group sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Transport Association, Aerospace Industry Association and Airports Council International.

Industry participants include airlines, airframe and engine manufacturers and fuel suppliers. This group has agreed to look at the use of F-T fuels for commercial airlines based on the study results of the DoD. The intention is to have several F-T fuels tested at different blend ratios with conventional jet fuel, and based upon the results in military equipment the airline industry could approve its use for commercial aircraft.

Resources:

• The Importance of Coal-to-Liquids Technology to Military and Civil Aviation (Congressional briefing)