Are alternative fuels the way forward for the aviation industry? Are they technically and
economically viable? Are they acceptable from the standpoint of our environment and
society as a whole? What are the investment priorities for R&D and deployment? These
were just some of the main questions raised by the SWAFEA (Sustainable Way for
Alternative Fuel and Energy in Aviation) conference held in Toulouse on February 9-10,
2011. Financed by the European Commission, SWAFEA is a 26-month study involving 18
partners1 led by Onera, the French aerospace research center.