MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(Marketwire -06/18/12)- Aeroports de Montreal (ADM), Bombardier Aerospace and Porter Airlines today joined forces to launch the inaugural flight of a series of biofuel flights which will deliver Raymond Benjamin, the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to Rio de Janeiro for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). Prior to departing from Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, executives from each organization emphasized the importance of investing in sustainable aviation and their commitment to working with the industry to reduce the environmental impact of aviation.

“As signatories of the Aviation Industry Commitment to Action on Climate Change, we fully share these objectives,” said Mr. James C. Cherry, President & CEO, Aeroports de Montreal. “I would like to take this opportunity to point out that Montreal-Trudeau airport was the first in North America to sell carbon credits and that we already have made several innovative achievements in the area of greenhouse gas reduction,” added Mr. Cherry

This marks the second biofuel flight for Bombardier and Porter this year. In April, Porter successfully conducted the first biofuel-powered revenue flight in Canada. In the conclusion to a test program that was launched in 2010, the airline flew one of its Q400 turboprops from its base at Toronto City Airport to Ottawa using a 50/50 blend of biofuel and Jet A1 fuel in one of its engines. Today’s flight is using the same fuel in one engine – certified to the new American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D7566/D1655 standard and derived from the oilseed crop, Camelina sativa(i) (49 per cent) and Brassica carinata(i) (one per cent). The aircraft’s other engine is powered by Jet A1 fuel.

The biofuel research is only one of many initiatives Bombardier has embarked on in recent years in the area of sustainable aviation as a pillar of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility program. Bombardier is also involved in numerous projects to reduce the environmental footprint of its sites and its products by using a lifecycle approach including Design for Environment and the implementation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building standards at its manufacturing sites.

“Bombardier is proud to be involved in this symbolic journey for the industry,” said Helene V. Gagnon, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility, Bombardier Aerospace. “As a leading aircraft manufacturer we must act as a role model for the industry where the environment is concerned, not only by designing and building innovative and responsible products, but by working in partnership with the entire industry to find solutions that can benefit us all in the long term.”

Porter operates a single-type fleet of 26 Q400 aircraft throughout its regional network.

“One reason that Porter initially chose the Q400 aircraft is because of its efficiency characteristics, including substantially reduced fuel usage and emissions compared to comparable jet aircraft,” said Robert Cordes, Executive Vice President and COO, Porter Airlines. “Biofuel used on a regular basis has the potential to make even greater improvements in the future. We’re proud to contribute to this goal as part of overall industry efforts.”

About Q400 aircraf

The Q400 turboprop airliner, which is built at Bombardier’s Toronto, Ontario facility, is the advanced successor to Bombardier’s Dash 8/Q-Series family of aircraft. Optimized for short-haul operations, the “comfortably greener,” 70- to 80-seat Q400 aircraft is a large, fast, quiet and fuel-efficient turboprop. It provides an ideal balance of passenger comfort and operating economics with a reduced environmental footprint.

Setting new environmental standards, the Q400 aircraft uses 30 to 40 per cent less fuel and produces 30 to 40 per cent fewer emissions on routes where it has replaced similar-capacity, older jets. Overall, the Q400 aircraft is 15 decibels quieter than ICAO Chapter 4 noise standards; raising the bar for the entire industry.

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