If you ask Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic Airlines has just taken a major step towards creating an environmentally-friendly jet. Ask others, and you might get a different take on things. Regardless of whether or not you buy into all that Branson says, the fact is that Virgin Atlantic’s test flight from London to Amsterdam could set the stage for future Green endeavors by major carriers. The Virgin Atlantic test flight involved a 747 that was partially powered by bio-fuel. It was the first commercial jumbo jet to do so. Now, bio-fuel can mean a lot of different things, so it’s important to point out that this specific flight used a fuel derived from coconut oil and a palm tree-based oil. Keep reading to get both sides of the debate surrounding Virgin Atlantic’s historic flight…

Branson’s detractors point out that just because a plane uses bio-fuel doesn’t mean that plane is Green. Branson is quick to offer that Virgin Atlantic is simply proving that it can be done (many have said bio-fuel would freeze at altitudes of 30,000 ft.). The British billionaire hopes that this test flight will move the industry closer to developing jet bio-fuels that do not require land to be ravaged and potential food sources to be sacrificed.

The “Green Issue” has been a major topic of debate in both the EU and the US airline industries. As of now, the EU is moving forward with policies to reduce CO2 emissions from commercial jets, and routes and flight schedules are being studied to see if changes can be made to reduce the environmental impact commercial jets are having all over the world.

The debate won’t be wiped out by a single test flight, and Branson will most likely remain a divisive figure in the Green movement. However, at the very least, the flight marks an attempt to make a change in an industry where most agree change is desperately needed.

Visit Standard Upright Position for back story on Virgin Atlantic’s bio-fuel powered 747 and check out an interview with Richard Branson on the subject at SmartBrief.

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