Indigenous bio-jet fuel made by Dehradun-based CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum Dehradun (IIP) has received formal approval for use in Air Force aircraft. Earlier, the Air Force has done its trial. Now Air Force aircraft will be able to fly on Biojet fuel.
R Kamalakannan, Group Director, Army Airworthiness and Certification Center (CEMILAC), handed over the interim certificate to Salim Akhtar Farooqui, Principal Scientist, CSIR-IIP. Group Captain Ashish Srivastava of the Indian Air Force and Wing Commander A Sachan, R Shanmuguel of CEMILAC were also present. This certification is a significant step towards India’s growing confidence in the aviation biofuel sector and a self-reliant India. The technology has been developed by the Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIIR-IIP), a national laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. Several experimental trials and trials have been conducted on this in the last three years. Dr. Anjan Ray, Director, IIP, expressed happiness that after this approval, Indian forces would be able to use this indigenously manufactured biojet fuel in all their working aircraft. It will also help in commercial production of Biojet.
Testing of airborne material is a complex and highly meticulous process. It ensures the highest level of flight safety with intensive investigations and tests. International aviation standards define this rigorous assessment. An Army AN-32 cargo aircraft carrying biojet fuel blended fuel took off over Rajpath on 26 January 2019 on Republic Day. After this, on 30 January 2020, a Russian aircraft successfully landed and took off at Leh airport. This experiment of biojet fuel was successful even in such high altitude and extremely cold conditions. In addition, another successful test run of this biojet fuel was carried out when the civil, commercial demonstration flight of SpiceJet powered by biojet fuel blended fuel successfully reached Delhi from Doon on 27 August 2018.
Biojet fuel is manufactured from residual extracts from used edible oil, vegetable oil, short duration oilseed crops and edible oil processing unit. The reduced sulfur content compared to conventional jet fuel also reduces air pollution and will help in achieving India’s goal of zero carbon emissions. Along with this, it will also promote the livelihood of farmers and tribals involved in non-edible oil-collection, production.
