1st flight fueled by winter camelina takes off from MSP
A sustainable aviation fuel made from the clean-water crop winter camelina would be a true boon for our waters, environment and farmers. (Photo by FMR)
FMR staff were proud to be on-hand last month as the first commercial plane to use jet fuel made from winter oilseeds took off from MSP Airport.
The flight, Delta DL 2732, departed from MSP the afternoon of Sept. 25, and landed in New York’s Laguardia Airport a little over two hours later. The trip was powered in part by sustainable aviation fuel made using winter camelina — a clean-water crop that can survive our harsh winters while in the ground and, as a result, boosts both water quality and soil health.
The winter camelina used to produce this flight’s fuel was grown in Minnesota and North Dakota over the past year.
“This is a real watershed moment,” said FMR Water Program Director Trevor Russell of the flight. “It’s the first step into a lower-carbon aviation future, and could help us achieve the most river-friendly agricultural landscape in quite some time.”
When Trevor joined FMR in 2006, he wasn’t expecting to ever work on aviation fuel. The subsequent State of the River Reports, however, made one thing clear: There is no path to a clean, healthy Mississippi River without significantly reducing agricultural pollution.
Winter oilseeds, which help provide continuous living cover, are among the most promising answers. The rapidly increasing demand for sustainable aviation fuel sources could power this shift in farming practices.
“Farmers across the state are planting more winter camelina this fall than ever before. That’s significant for not just the Mississippi, but all of our rivers,” said FMR Agricultural Policy Manager Peter LaFontaine. “The more crops we have covering the soil in winter in Minnesota, the fewer pollutants will enter our waters and the less erosion we’ll see during the spring thaw.”
Winter camelina is just one of many crops being developed by our Forever Green partners at the University of Minnesota. All of them advance key principles of regenerative agriculture: They protect the soil with plant cover, keep living roots in the ground, reduce tillage and diversify crop rotations.
Sustainable aviation fuel in the news
- KARE 11: First 'sustainable fuel' flight takes off at MSP, represents possible future for air travel
- Agweek: Camelina-based sustainable aviation fuel takes first flight from Minnesota
- Star Tribune: Delta sends off first flight from MSP using Minnesota-grown sustainable fuel
- Public News Service: Cruising at 30,000 feet with cleaner jet fuel: MN part of sustainability efforts