"ALFA-BIRD aims at developing the use of alternative fuels in aeronautics. In a context where the price of oil is increasing and with impact of fossil fuels on climate change, the sustainable growth of the civil aviation is conditioned by the respect of the environment. In this context, using biofuels and alternative fuels in aeronautics is a great challenge, since the operational constraints (e.g. flight in very cold conditions) are very strict, and due to the long lifetime of current civil aircraft (almost 50 years). To address this challenge, ALFA-BIRD gathers a multi-disciplinary consortium with key industrial partners from aeronautics (engine manufacturers, aircraft manufacturers) and fuel industry, and research organisation covering a large spectrum of expertise in the fields of aeronautics, biochemistry, combustion as well as industrial safety. Bringing together their knowledge, the consortium will develop the whole chain for clean alternative fuels for aviation. The most promising solutions will be examined during the project, from classical ones (plant oils, synthetic fuels) to the most innovative, such as new organic molecules. Based on a first selection of the most relevant alternative fuels, a detailed analysis of up to 5 new fuels will be performed with tests in realistic conditions. Then, at the end of the project, the review of the performance of these new alternative fuels will be made regarding the economical, environmental and technical efficiency. Based on this result the most relevant strategy for future alternative fuels for aircraft will be defined, as well as an implementation plan and industrial applications. The impact of such a project will be of first importance for the evolution of aviation within the next 5 decades. Developing alternative fuels will improve each country’s energy independence, lessen global-warming effects, and soften the economic uncertainty of crude oil peaking."