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This paper describes the recently established Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuel Initiative (CAAFI), including its goals and objectives, as well as presents an alternate fuel roadmap that was originally generated by industry and refined by the CAAFI stakeholders. CAAFI is designed to coordinate the development and commercialization of “drop-in” alternate fuels (i.e. fuels that can directly supplement or replace crude oil derived jet fuels), as well as exploring the long-term potential of other fuel options. The ultimate goal is to ensure an affordable and stable supply of environmentally progressive aviation fuels that will enable continued growth of commercial aviation. This initiative is organized into four sub-groups: Research and Development (R&D), certification, environment, and economics & business. The R&D group seeks to identify promising new drop-in alternate fuels, and to foster coordination of development efforts.

The commercial airplane designer is faced with the challenge of balancing many factors to achieve an optimal airplane design, namely, how to reduce jet fuel use while also maintaining or improving emissions, noise, cruise speed, operating cost, range, reliability, maintainability, payload, takeoff field length, initial cruise altitude, and landing speed. Often, fuel efficiency improvements run counter to other design constraints imposed on the aircraft manufacturer by market forces. However, emerging engine and airframe technologies will help to continue the historical trend towards reduced fuel use. Five concept airplane designs will be reviewed that use future technology to enable the design of more environmentally friendly airplanes.