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Air China on Friday successfully test flew a passenger plane powered by a mix of biofuel and traditional aviation fuel, which in the near future could help the country overcome crude oil shortages.
The Boeing 747 landed safely at Beijing Capital International Airport at 9.30 a.m., local time, after using up more than 10 tonnes of biofuel.
Analysts believe the successful trial projects biofuel as an alternative energy option for commercial passenger flights in the near future, State-run news agency Xinhua reported.
After the test, Mr Zhang Hongying, an official with the Civil Aviation Administration of China, proclaimed that biofuel was now ready for use in commercial flights.
Mr Sun Li, General Manager of the China National Aviation Fuel Group Corporation, a large State-owned supplier of aviation fuel, said the fuel used was a 50-50 mix.
Air China Vice-President Mr He Li said the fuel's composition and burning efficiency had been tested as well as its impact on the engines.
The biofuel used in the trial flight was produced from the seeds of the tung tree.
Mr Shen Diancheng, a Vice-President of PetroChina Co Ltd, said it had taken PetroChina 10 years to overcome the technical barriers in converting the seed oil into fuel for airplanes.
He said the trees used were grown on mountains and wasteland.
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