The FAA has approved a new bio-based jet fuel for aviation use, produced from ethanol derived from renewable feed stocks.

Known as alcohol to jet synthetic paraffinic kerosene (ATJ-SPK), the new fuel was approved with support from technical standards organization ASTM International as an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based jet fuel. This is the fifth bio-based jet fuel approved by ASTM.

The FAA approves new renewable jet fuels as part of its CLEEN emissions and noise collaboration with the aviation industry. ATJ-SPK is created from an alcohol called isobutanol that is derived from renewable sources including sugar, corn or forest waste.

Previously approved renewable jet fuels include synthesized iso-paraffins (SIP), hydro-processed esters and fatty acids synthetic paraffinic kerosene (HEFA-SPK), Fischer-Tropsch synthetic paraffinic kerosene (FT-SPK) and Fischer-Tropsch synthetic kerosene with aromatics (FT-SKA).

The alternative fuels are expected to help the aviation industry to meet its climate change goal of carbon neutral growth.