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The aim of this paper is to show that the gains, technical and/or economical, from the use of ethanol as fuel in agricultural aviation may be even greater if the aircraft engine is specially designed for that purpose. A specific design is also necessary if it is intended to achieve a truly "green" engine, neutral regarding carbon emissions. Using available technologies, computational tools, development methods and project management methods (Reference Model for Agricultural Machinery Development Process (RM-AMDP), the engine can be fully developed to be used specifically as an agricultural aircraft propellant operating with ethanol. In Brazil, the current fleet of agricultural airplanes has around 1500 aircrafts and almost all operating with AvGas (Aviation Gasoline). There is already in Brazil a "green" airplane, manufactured by Neiva, a subsidiary of the aircraft manufacturer Embraer. This model uses a conversion kit on the original engine to use ethanol as fuel.

The purpose of the 4-SPACE (4-Stroke Powered gasoline Auto-ignition Controlled combustion Engine) industrial research project is to research and develop an innovative controlled auto-ignition combustion process for lean burn automotive gasoline 4-stroke engines application. The engine concepts to be developed could have the potential to replace the existing stoichiometric / 3-way catalyst automotive spark ignition 4-stroke engines by offering the potential to meet the most stringent EURO 4 emissions limits in the year 2005 without requiring DeNOx catalyst technology. A reduction of fuel consumption and therefore of corresponding CO2 emissions of 15 to 20% in average urban conditions of use, is expected for the « 4-SPACE » lean burn 4-stroke engine with additional reduction of CO emissions.