Says Small Businesses Worldwide Would Greatly Benefit From A Significant Reduction In Fuel Cost

The American Small Business Travelers Alliance (ASBTA), is calling for the quick adoption of biofuels by airlines. "Public and private sector experts agree that small business success in creating jobs despite critical economic challenges is an essential factor in stabilizing the nation's economy," said Chuck Sharp, president of the Alliance. "Skyrocketing costs of air travel are a major hurdle but, fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel."

The Alliance referred to the two year Yale study funded by Boeing that found that little known Jatropha, an inedible weed-like plant that grows on otherwise unused land, could be converted to jet fuel and provide major cost savings while eliminating 60% of all harmful emissions.

Mission NewEnergy, Limited, a major producer of Jatropha, based on acreage used, applauded the study and ASBTA's efforts to gain public support for an all-airline changeover to biofuel. "Air New Zealand, Continental, Brazil TAM, Japan, Virgin Atlantic and KLM are already testing Jatropha in flight use. Now it is time for all carriers, large and small, to sample the benefits of sustainability and environmental responsibility while reducing their own operational costs significantly," James Garton, President of Mission NewEnergy Limited, USA said.

The Mission NewEnergy executive pledged to make Jatropha available through any responsible conversion company so that all 230 airlines in the International Air Transport Association could experience the benefits and savings. "The airline industry has been plagued with unprecedented costs since each penny jump in oil prices literally means millions in expense for a carrier," Roger Frizzell, Vice President of American Airlines and an a Mission NewEnergy advisory board member said.

"In light of successful test flights by several major carriers using Jatropha and this week's successful trans-Atlantic biofuel powered crossing (using camelina-based blends,ed), it would seem appropriate for U.S. officials to expedite approval of the plant as a base for jet biofuel as other nations have done," Sharp concluded.

FMI: www.asbta.com