23 Sep 2010

Intertek, the leading provider of quality and safety solutions to a wide range of industries worldwide, tested the aviation fuel used during a historic biofuel powered single engine propeller flight across the Atlantic from Canada to Germany. Intertek was chosen as the project’s biofuel fuel quality testing partner, providing testing and consultancy services during the fuel development phase as well as during the journey.

Intertek provided consulting services as a sponsor to the project, ensuring the alternative fuel was safe and met critical aviation fuel standards and specifications. The Netherlands Clean Technology Development Center (CTDC) launched the project to highlight new aviation fuel blends which use renewable biofuel sources. CTDC was started in 2008 by Ben Cappelle, a former Dutch Air Force officer. Together with Argos Oil and BioMCN, CTDC has developed a novel aviation fuel which is a viable alternative to current aviation fuel types. This was the first transatlantic single engine flight to use biofuels, according to Cappelle, helping to demonstrate the viability of using biofuels for long-haul aviation.

Jay Gutierrez, Executive Vice President of Intertek’s Oil, Chemical & Agri and Government Services Division, said “Intertek is honored play a key supporting role for this groundbreaking, innovative project involving alternative aviation fuels.”

The flight left Toronto, Canada on August 13, 2010 with refueling stops in Greenland, Iceland and Scotland before landing on August 21st at the German airfield Nordhorn-Lingen, near the Dutch-German border.

Intertek Contacts: 

Michel Verhoef, Director Laboratory Business Development
Tel: +31 (0) 10 4902713
Email: michel.verhoef@intertek.com 

Sarah Ogilvie, Media Relations Europe
Tel: +44 20 7396 3434
Email: sarah.ogilvie@intertek.com

Cassandra Biscanin, Media Relations Americas
Tel: +1 713 407 3500
Email: Cassandra.biscanin@intertek.com

Erik Holladay, Global Marketing Director, OCA Division
Tel: +1 713 407 3500
Email: erik.holladay@intertek.com

About Intertek: 

Intertek (ITRK.L) is a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world. Intertek people add value to customers' products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace. Intertek supports customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 26,000 people in more than 100 countries.

About The Clean Tech Development Center: 

Ben Cappelle founded the Clean Tech Development Center BV in 2008. The dedicated team of CTDC has set goals to become the first R&D Aviation test center to produce, with its partners Argos oil and BioMCN, a viable and competitive bio fuel option for the aviation industry. http://www.ctdc.nl