International Alternative Aviation Fuel Conference Set for Nov. 6-8

by LoAna Lopez

WACO, Texas - Baylor University's Department of Aviation Sciences, together with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Environment Canada, Texas State Technical College and others will host the Second International Conference on Alternative Aviation Fuels on Nov. 6-8 on the Baylor campus.
According to Dr. Max Shauck, chair of the Department of Aviation Sciences at Baylor and organizer of the conference, this conference is being held at a critical time for the aviation industry. Lead is being phased out of aviation gasoline; pollution from aircraft, particularly jets, is of mounting concern; and the need to limit the steady rise in greenhouse gases is becoming an international requirement. In the United States, tougher air quality regulations have been promulgated and are being evaluated by Congress. These regulations will likely impact on aircraft operations.
International experts in these areas will assemble at Baylor University to discuss the issues, present materials on technological advances in both engine and fuel development, evaluate current and potential regulatory requirements and develop options that will permit the continued growth of the aviation industry world wide while protecting the environment.
A study recently released by the Natural Resources Defense Council - Flying Off Course: The Environmental Impact of Airports - will help identify the topics to be covered at the conference. Sessions will focus on challenges, such as current and potential advances in aircraft engines and the use of cleaner-burning, alternative aviation fuels, that face the aviation community.
Discussions also will focus on opportunities in the promotion of aviation alternative fuel. These promotion opportunities include advances made in the "Clean Airports" program (coordinated by Baylor), certification of ethanol as an aviation fuel, testing of other alternative, clean-burning aviation fuels and the development of more efficient and less-polluting aircraft engines.
For more information, contact the Department of Aviation Sciences at (254) 710-3563 or e-mail AVS_Office@baylor.edu