Second ICAO Conference on Alternative Aviation Fuels Held in Mexico

(International Civil Aviation Organization) At the 39th Session of the ICAO Assembly, Resolutions A39-2 (Consolidated statement of continuing ICAO policies and practices related to environmental protection – Climate change) reaffirmed the need for alternative fuels to be developed and deployed in an economically, socially and environmentally acceptable manner.

The 39th Session of the Assembly also welcomed the convening of this second ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels, with the aim of developing an ICAO Vision on Aviation Alternative Fuels. This Vision will encourage States to take action at national and international levels to further develop and deploy sustainable alternative fuels for aviation.

This Conference will be conducted in conducted in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish languages.

Video Message - ICAO NACC Regional Office Director Mr. Melvin Cintron confirms that the ICAO Regional Office in Mexico City is open for business in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes, and explains how ICAO is working with local governments to rebuild and restore capacity in disaster affected areas in ICAO's North and Central American and Caribbean Region.

The second conference of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on alternative aviation
fuels (CAAF2) started in Mexico City yesterday, October 11, 2017. The conference builds on the first
ICAO Conference on alternative aviation fuels (CAAF) held in November 2009 and the results of the ICAO Alternative Fuels seminar held in February 2017.

Already at the first conference in 2009, the use of renewable fuels for aviation was identified as an
important means of reducing aviation emissions and with the adoption of the ICAO Global Framework
for Aviation Alternative Fuels (GFAAF) an information database for global activities on kerosene
alternatives was created. Furthermore, the 39th session of the ICAO Assembly in September 2016
strongly emphasized the need to develop and deploy alternative fuels in an economically, socially and
ecologically sustainable manner.

On the occasion of this ICAO conference in Mexico, aireg Chairman of the Board Siegfried Knecht states:
“It is right and important that the ICAO is addressing itself again to this topic and that alternative
aviation fuels are acknowledged prominently on the international stage. I consider it absolutely
necessary that all technology routes for synthetic fuels which are approved today are taken significantly
into account in the ongoing CORSIA deliberations and decisions, as well as future technological options.

We in Europe and in Germany have the most stringent certification criteria, such as through ISCC, and
can therefore confidently face any sustainability debate, taking into account ecological, economic and
social aspects.” READ MORE

Excerpt from Biofuels International: The Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), a global not-for profit organisation that represents ‘all sectors’ of the air transport industry, challenged the NGO’s claims, arguing that the aviation industry was striving to avoid using feedstocks associated with deforestation and other problems. ATAG has 50 members world-wide, including Airbus, Boeing, Bomardier, the International Air Transport Association and Rolls-Royce.

Haldane Dodd, head of communications at ATAG, told Biofuels International: “The NGO claims absolutely do not reflect the thinking of airlines and the industry, which has been proceeding along road of alternative fuels with caution and very deliberately avoiding some of the feedstocks (like palm oil) which have caused issues in the past.” READ MORE