Eight U.S airlines have taken an initiative to take charge of the burning issue involving global warming and the dangerously depleting ozone layer. By signing a ‘green’ agreement with the Air Transport Association of America (ATA), they will adopt renewable synthetic diesel fuel for their ground service equipment and vehicles at the Los Angeles Airport (LAX). This groundbreaking treaty was signed between eight U.S carriers, the synthetic fuel specialist – Rentech, and the global provider of ground, fuel, cargo facilities for airlines and airports – Aircraft Service International Group (ASIG). 

What makes this alliance so momentous? The answer is Renewable Synthetic Diesel Fuel –RenDiesel by RenTech. This fuel which is obtained from renewable natural resources, primarily from woody green waste such has grass clippings, is far more environmentally friendly than the conventional petroleum-derived fuels. The impressively low levels of carbon and particulate emissions during its production as well as use, sparse levels of toxicity, high levels of purity, lack of contaminants, and near-absence of sulfur and aromatics makes this fuel superior than the conventional fuels that is being consumed for airline services. What makes this fuel indispensable is the fact that it is characterized by strong elements that protect our Mother Earth, without any compromise on the performance or the quality of fuel.

The eight U.S airlines involved in this collaborative effort of greening our planet are: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS Airlines and US Airways. These eight U.S carriers will purchase nearly 1.5 million gallons of renewable synthetic diesel fuel that will be exclusively used for the ground service equipment and vehicles at LAX.

The ATA is optimistic about adding more airlines to their treaty. The strong backing and the sentiment behind this initiative of the significant people supporting this environment friendly decision, the ATA Board Chairman and UAL Corporation Chairman, President and CEO – Glenn Tilton, the Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) – Gina Marie Lindsey, and the President and CEO of the fuel manufacturer Rentech – D. Hunt Ramsbottom, is truly inspiring. Their refreshing perspective of using greener fuels to reduce the green house emissions and improve the quality of air, and their drive to achieve a cleaner environment is evident from their thoughts and actions.

RenDiesel, the fuel with a near-zero carbon footprint, and a low-emissions profile will be produced at the commercial-scale facility that Rentech is developing in Rialto, California. The recent approval of Rentech’s jet fuel for commercial airline use marked Rentech’s aim to diversify its synthetic fuel operation to achieve a cleaner and greener environment. Considering the fact that a single domestic airline uses 2.5 gallons of jet fuel per year, the current challenge faced by this innovative synthetic fuel professional is, matching the scale that defines the amount of synthetic fuel that will be required for the commercial airline services.

Incorporating synthetic diesel fuels in tourism and travel is definitely the next big thing. We will know that a cleaner, greener and an economical environment is here to stay when synthetic fuels will be localized to helicopters and buses that play a distinctive role in the famous Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours and the Niagara Falls Bus Tours!