13 February 2009: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) organized a Workshop on Aviation and Alternative Fuels from 10-12 February 2009, in Montreal, Canada.

In his opening speech, ICAO Secretary General Taïeb Chérif underlined that the international aviation community had not yet achieved an integrated approach to alternative fuels and stressed the need for more global coordination. He suggested ICAO was the recognized forum for this purpose and indicated the organization’s commitment to exercising its leadership among all aviation stakeholders. Noting that the aviation industry is anticipated to grow in the coming decades, he said action to reduce the use of fossil fuels has become “a pressing issue,” and that alternative fuels are part of the variety of approaches possible.
During the workshop, delegates heard presentations from international airline, aerospace and fuel industry representatives, together with reports from partners involved in the recent Boeing-led biofuel test flights, including Continental Airlines, Japan Airlines, UOP and biofuel feedstock supplier Sapphire Energy. ICAO announced it would hold a conference on alternative aviation fuels in November 2009. [Workshop Website] [Workshop Presentations]