News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 23, 2020 in his monthly Mann ki Baat radio address, hailed the use of biofuel in AN 32-an Indian Air Force transport aircraft, saying such innovations would bring down carbon emissions and lower the nation’s oil import bill.
IAF’s An-32 aircraft using a 10% blend of Indian biojet fuel took off from Leh’s Kushok Bakula Rimpoche airport on January 31, 2020. This was the first time that this mix was used in both engines of an aircraft.
What is Biojet fuel?
According to the Prime Minister, Biojet fuel used in AN-32 was prepared from “non-edible tree borne oil”, and was procured from various tribal areas of India.
This fuel was made from Jatropha oil sourced from Chattisgarh Biodiesel Development Authority (CBDA) and then processed at CSIR-IIP, Dehradun.
Why Leh flight is important?
Leh is situated at an altitude of 10,682 ft above mean sea level, and is among the world’s highest and most difficult operational airfields. Evaluating the performance of biojet fuel under conditions prevalent in Leh was considered extremely important from an operational perspective.
The success of the AN-32 flight validated the capability of the aircraft’s engines to operate smoothly with biojet fuel at the extremities of the operational envelope. (Source: IE)
