Based On: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090131095501.htm
SUMMARY
HOW IT WOULD EFFECT ME?
NASA and other research groups were testing two different non-petroleum jet fuels last month in February. They were researching in hopes of finding an alternative fuel for commercial airlines and cheaper oil cost. The test were seeing what happen to the performance of the plane and the emissions from the coal and natural gas using the Fischer-Tropsch process. The Fischer-Tropsch process is a chemical reaction in which a synthesis gas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, is converted into liquid hydrocarbons of various forms. A synthetic petroleum is produced from this, making the fuel. This process, the Fischer-Tropsch process, is very expensive. There are no plants for this in the United States of America, but they are around the world that the United States could import from. The test plane for this, is a DC-8 plane. It's one of NASA's planes. It is being used because it's engine operations are well documented. If the synthetic fuel test are successful this fuel could be put into use, reducing emissions and improving air quality.
This will affect me in many ways; the main one is that airline prices would be much cheaper for me. This would mean my family and I could travel for much cheaper. Also the air would be much cleaner and not as polluting. This could also mean more travelers, which would make airline companies have more money to offer more perks on flights. With cheaper flights, it could help the economy become stronger. The only negative to this, is the reliability of the fuel. What would happen if your 10,000 feet in the air and your fuel started acting weird because it was clumping together. I do think there needs to be more testing and planning in this idea. Other than that I think its a great idea and a better way to save money.
