New Delhi: SpiceJet Monday operated India’s first test flight powered by biojet fuel, the
airline said.
A Bombardier Q400 aircraft, partially using biojet fuel, took off from Dehradun and landed at the airport in the national capital. The airline said it successfully operated “India’s first ever biojet fuel flight’.
The flight was powered with a blend of 75 per cent air turbine fuel (ATF) and 25 per cent biojet fuel, it said. In a release, the airline said the advantage of using biojet fuel as compared to ATF is that it reduces carbon emissions and enhances fuel efficiency. Made from Jatropha crop, the fuel has been developed by the CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun, SpiceJet said. Around 20 people, including officials from aviation regulator DGCA and SpiceJet, were in the test flight. The duration of the flight was around 25 minutes, according to an airline executive.
SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said biojet fuel is low cost and helps in significantly reducing carbon emissions. “It has the potential to reduce our dependence on traditional aviation fuel by up to 50 per cent on every flight and bring down fares,” he said.
“This is a very significant occasion,” said Suresh Prabhu, the Union Minister for Commerce, Industry and Civil Aviation. “Today the biggest challenge is how to protect the environment…We all know that fossil fuels have a huge impact on the environment.”
Policy for biofuel in aviation sector
New Delhi: The government plans to come out with a “special policy” for use of biofuel in the aviation sector, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said Monday. Gadkari said a “special policy” would be put in place for use of biofuel in the aviation sector. A Cabinet note would be moved in this regard, the road transport minister said, adding that the use of biofuel would help in reducing oil import bill. Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said efforts are on to have a consumer-friendly, affordable and environment-friendly aviation sector.
