Airlines for America (A4A), a trade organization for U.S. carriers, and Boeing have made several recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to speed the development of biofuels for commercial applications. The recommendations were announced in conjunction with the recent publication of the working-draft “Farm to Fly” report issued by the USDA, A4A and Boeing.

“While there has been a great deal of progress made toward the deployment of aviation biofuels, additional steps are needed to support the commercial viability of this new industry,” said John Heimlich, vice president and chief economist for A4A.

The Farm to Fly partnership was established in July 2010 to advance a comprehensive and sustainable aviation biofuels rural-development plan. As the lead agency responsible for feedstock development and production systems, USDA joined with A4A and the Boeing Company in a resolution to accelerate the availability of sustainable aviation biofuels in the United States, increase domestic energy security, establish regional supply chains and support rural development.

A4A is committed to the development and deployment of sustainable alternative fuels for use in jet aircraft. The Farm to Fly initiative builds on and expands the work of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), of which A4A is a co-founding and co-leading member, to hasten the availability of commercially viable, environmentally preferred alternative jet fuels.