Rev. 07/10 

“A new approach [should 

utilize] pre-established 

market outlets [and] 

customer purchase 

commitments to stimulate 

production of feedstocks 

and biofuels with a 

concerted effort directed 

to our military and airline 

industry.” 

“Growing America’s Biofuels” 

Report of the White House 

Biofuels Interagency 

Working Group 

February 2010 

“[The] U.S. aviation 

industry is eager for an 

entirely new fuel dynamic 

and will be an 

enthusiastic purchaser.” 

 Air Transport Association 

letter to President-Elect Obama 

January 16, 2009 

Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative 

Supporting solutions for secure and sustainable aviation 

CAAFI Sponsors 

Airports Council International-North 

America (ACI-NA) 

Aerospace Industries Association 

(AIA) 

Air Transport Association (ATA) 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

 

Background 

The Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) seeks to enhance energy security and 

environmental sustainability for aviation through alternative jet fuels. CAAFI is a coalition of U.S. 

commercial aviation stakeholders that acts as a focal point for engaging with the emerging alternative 

fuels industry. It enables its diverse stakeholders to build relationships, share and collect data, identify 

resources, and direct research, development and deployment of alternative fuels. 

CAAFI is sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Environment and Energy 

and three trade associations: Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) representing 

commercial airports, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) representing U.S. manufacturers, the 

Air Transport Association of America (ATA), representing U.S. airlines. CAAFI stakeholders include 

all elements of the international commercial aviation industry, fuel suppliers, universities and U.S. 

government agencies. 

Goal 

CAAFI aims to promote the development of 

alternative fuel options that offer equivalent levels of safety and compare 

favorably with petroleum-based jet fuel 

on cost and environmental bases, with the 

specific goal of enhancing security of 

energy supply. 

Aviation is well positioned to pursue alternative fuels. The industry is international in 

scope, has a highly networked supply chain, 

and has a unique capacity to function in an 

aligned and coordinated manner. 

CAAFI stakeholders are working on teams 

in four areas: 

1) Fuel Certification and Qualification 

2) Research & Development 

3) Environment 

4) Business and Economics 

Teams regularly meet to share progress, 

identify gaps and hurdles, determine next 

steps for the earliest possible development 

and deployment of jet fuel alternatives, and 

expand global engagement. 

Accomplishments in 2009 & 2010 

o Approval by ASTM International for synthesized hydrocarbon jet fuels (ASTM D7566). 

o Initial pre-purchase agreements by 15 airlines 

and two alternative-fuel suppliers. 

o Fuel Readiness Level (FRL) endorsed as a best 

practice by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). 

o Completion of aviation-fuel-specific greenhouse gas (GHG) lifecycle analysis (LCAs) for 

multiple fuels. 

o Unified R&D roadmaps to inform investment 

decisions by the public and private sectors. 

o Strategic Alliance of airlines (ATA) and Department of Defense fuel purchasers creates 

“single market” for alternative jet fuel. 

o Over 50 energy suppliers engaged in development and deployment discussions. 

o Aviation a priority for “concerted effort” for 

biofuel deployment by U.S. government. 

o Won 2010 Air Transport World, Joseph S. 

Murphy Award for service to the industry.

CAAFI Leadership: 

Richard L. Altman (CAAFI Executive Director) 

Nate Brown, FAA (CAAFI Deputy Executive Director) 

Kristin Lewis, Volpe Center (CAAFI Deputy Executive Director) 

Marty Bradley, Boeing; Stephen Kramer, Pratt & Whitney; 

and Michael Epstein, GE (R&D Leads) 

Lourdes Maurice, FAA (Environmental Lead) 

Mark Rumizen, FAA (Certification and Qualification Lead) 

John Rau, American Airlines (Business and Economics Lead)