Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has launched AVGAS 100 LL-special aviation fuel meant for piston engine aircrafts and Unmanned Ariel Vehicles.
Key points
- Currently India is importing this product from European countries.
- The launch of indigenous AV GAS 100 LL by IOCL is important to serve the needs of a thriving aviation industry with increase in footfall on airports, rise in number of aircrafts and Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) in trainee aircrafts for pilot training in future.
- As the demand for air transport in India is expected to increase manifolds in the future, there is going to be a huge demand for trained pilots also.
- And for this, the number of FTOs is also expected to increase significantly.
- AV Gas market is expected to grow from the current $ 1.92 billion to $ 2.71 billion by 2029. The domestic production of AVGAS 100 LL produced by Indian Oil at its Gujarat Refinery will make flying training more affordable in India.
- This product which fuels the aircraft operated by FTOs and Defense forces, is being imported for decades by India.
- Principal grade of Aviation Gasoline, AVGAS 100 LL is designed for use in turbo charged reciprocating piston engines aircrafts, mainly used by FTOs and defence forces for training pilots.
About Avgas
- Avgas is the type of aviation fuel used in small piston engine powered aircraft within the general aviation community.
- These aircraft are predominantly used by private pilots and flying clubs and for tasks such as flight training and crop dusting.
- Piston engines operate using the same basic principles as the spark ignition engines found in cars, but they have a much higher performance requirement.
- Raw refinery gasoline streams undergo specialist processes to produce the necessary high-octane components for this highly-refined narrow-cut aviation fuel.
- Avgas 100LL grade is the low-lead version of Avgas 100.
- Each grade of avgas is dyed a different colour to make it easier to identify. For example, Avgas 100 is green and Avgas 100LL is blue.
- Avgas is fuel for small piston engine powered aircraft, while jet fuel is more like kerosene and is used to power turbine engine aircraft.
