Feb. 6, 2008 - The European Commission has officially kicked off its Clean Sky program, a $2.4 billion collaboration with the aeronautics industry to design cleaner airplanes, Reuters reports. Under the program, aerospace firms will pool the money to research and develop planes that make less noise, consume less energy, and can run on alternative fuels.

"There are three main objectives: the reduction by 50% of carbon dioxide, halving the level of noise, and reducing by 80% the level of nitrogen oxide emissions," says Marc Vantre, CEO of the aerospace propulsion division at Safran, a French conglomerate.

Fifty-four industrial firms have signed on to the program so far.

Earlier this week, airplane manufacturer Airbus successfully flight-tested a synthetic liquid fuel processed from natural gas.