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AIA Congratulates CAAFI on Williams Trophy Award

Statement by the Aerospace Industries Association

August 18, 2011

The Aerospace Industries Association congratulates the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative team on being selected to receive the 2011 Williams Trophy. Richard L. Altman and the CAAFI team are a significant force in advancing commercially sustainable biofuels.

The aviation industry’s environmental track record is notable. Today’s commercial aircraft are 70 percent more fuel efficient than jet aircraft of the 1960s. Sustainable biofuels have the potential to be 80 percent more fuel efficient than fossil fuels, which means that sustainable aviation biofuels will contribute 80 percent less CO2 on a lifecycle basis than fossil fuels. Commercially viable sustainable alternative aviation fuel is critical to meeting the global civil aviation industry’s commitment to cut CO2 emissions in half by 2050 compared to 2005 levels.

The trophy, which will be presented later this year by the Washington Airports Task Force, is awarded annually to recognize those whose leadership, vision and dedication in the application of aviation or space has enriched the quality of life on earth.