On February 2008, Virgin Atlantic Airways made aviation history by flying a Boeing 747 commercial jet run partially on biofuel, from London to Amsterdam, Biofuel is a renewable energy source made from coconuts and palm oils. The Civil Aviation Authority, the U.K. equivalent of the Federal Aviation Administration, gave the flight its seal of approval.
Even though it took 150,000 coconuts to make 400 gallons of fuel for a 40 minute flight, the aviation industry is interested in pursuing this. 9 international air carriers have joined to form a group that is researching alternative fuels such as algae, soy beans, or corn oil. The organization hopes to have regular biofueled flights by 2012.