London-Qatar flight first-ever fueled by natural gas blend

Mark · Post by **Mark** » 14 Oct 2009, 13:24

London-Qatar flight first-ever fueled by natural gas blend:
http://www.greenbang.com/london-qatar-f ... 12132.html
http://www.shell.com/home/content/media ... 02009.html

A Qatar Airways aircraft this week completed the world’s first commercial passenger flight powered by a fuel made from natural gas. The six-hour journey from London Gatwick to Doha, the capital of Qatar, was powered by a Shell-developed 50-50 blend of synthetic gas-to-liquids (GTL) kerosene and conventional oil-based kerosene fuel. Qatar expects to become the world’s leading producer of GTL kerosene with the start of commercial production in 2012.

Continues...........

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 14 Oct 2009, 15:36

What is the cost of gas to liquid kerosine?

Unless they can make it for less than $100/barrel they are wasting their time.

fifthcolumn · Post by **fifthcolumn** » 14 Oct 2009, 17:23

RGR and I discussed this possibility on another thread.

But as to the cost effectiveness: as ralph says, it's a foregone conclusion that the heyday of the airline industry is behind us.

At current prices, many people simply can't afford to fly, and if gas is going to be a partial substitute, demand will rise concurrently and price along with it so it's not likely that the days of cheap holidays are going to return.

I suspect that over the next decade, the average family will go from taking one foreign holiday a year to maybe two a decade, if that.

What is interesting is how the gap in the market will be filled?

Nuclear powered cruise ships?

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 14 Oct 2009, 19:47

I suspect that over the next decade, the average family will go from taking one foreign holiday a year to maybe two a decade, if that.

In this green and pleasant land there are many who could never afford a packet of crisps let alone a holiday.

madibe · Post by **madibe** » 14 Oct 2009, 23:24

yes, interesting how many people seem to see flights to far away lands as a right. And I would hazard a guess that they have not explored their own locale fully.

But hey, you must be under achieving if you cant get away twice a year.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 14 Oct 2009, 23:31

maudibe wrote: get away

It's kind of a daft thing to want innit. I mean, get away from what? Why do you never find hols advertised as a "get to"?..