No organic fuel discovered so far is as “dense” with hydrocarbons as petroleum, which is why it has represented the fuel of choice in internal combustion engines for more than a century. While biofuels come close to replicating the characteristics of petroleum, the one area where they fall short is density.

Honeywell Aerospace’s engine division has been active the last three years testing its business aviation engines and airline APUs on 50/50 blends of biofuel and military JP8 jet fuel.

Could automation provide a life-saving solution in the ultimate emergency — pilot incapacitation? Why not? responds David Vos, senior director, UAS business, at Rockwell Collins. Passenger-carrying aircraft could be fitted with a “panic button” that a crewmember or even a passenger could push if the pilots were unable to function, he believes. The button would engage automation that could safely fly the aircraft to the nearest suitable airport and land it.