The Indian Air Force is research to expand the use of biojet fuel on its transport fleet and helicopters before pending to fighter aircraft, after assessing its crash on engines, cost economy and manufacture capacity in India.
Last month, the IAF flew India's first military flight using biojet fuel blended with Aviation Turbine Fuel on a Russian-made AN-32 transport aircraft out of Chandigarh. Even the Republic Day fly-past on January 26 will consist of the IAF flying a configuration of three AN-32s with the lead airplane using blended biojet fuel.
"India's expedition to search for exchange sources of fuel towards plummeting its reliance on crude oil will now be showcased by the arrangement of An 32 aircraft flying in 'vic' configuration. The lead aircraft of the formation, piloted by Squadron Leader Mehtab Sond of the Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment, will be flown using Aviation Turbine Fuel blended with 10 percent Biofuel," said the IAF in a statement.
The fuel is extracted from Jatropha plant seeds with a technology original by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun. The IAF believes that victorious trials of the fuel will lead to an important decrease in India's dependence on imported crude oil. "The IAF's proposal is in line with the Prime Minister's vision to reduce crude oil imports and dependence to the tune of 10 percent by 2021."
While the IAF has not formulated a long-term plan on the use of biojet fuel, it is trying it on its airplane and observing how it works. "Presently, we are in the investigational phase, so these trials will carry on for some time. There are two aspects. One is what is the impact of biojet fuel on the systems and engines of the aircraft. That we will assess. Second is who will produce it. Where will it come from? What are the quantities necessary if we have to do a full-scale adaptation and then how will it work," said Air vice Marshal RGK Kapoor, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Space).
"No nation has completely changed to Biofuel. They are in various stages of testing, trials and crash study. It is a slow process. What we want to do is prove a concept. Once that is proved, then we know we can do it. Then, how to do it is not a big deal," he said.
While the Biofuel is only being used on one AN-32 for now, the IAF plans to use it on twin-engine aircraft until proving the concept. "We want to use it on twin-engine because the fuel system is made like that that in case there is a problem then the second engine will continue to work. It's independent systems. We will do it on twin-engine aircraft originally till we prove the concept," he said, adding that the IAF will use it on other transport aircraft and twin-engine helicopters.
Kapoor added that the IAF has already flown a few sorties using Biofuel. "The fact is that the aircraft has taken off, it has done some flying and landed back. The aircraft has performed completely. There has been no problem on the aircraft so far. That is why we have the self-confidence to put it in the air and fly a little longer," he said.
When asked what will be the cost saving of using Biofuel, the officer added that this will happen after considering what India's farmers can do, the transportation cost and checking with companies on the production setup.
The IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa had spelled out the blueprint of the force's Biofuel plans, while addressing a Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers seminar last July, reads an August 2018 'issue brief' of the IAF backed think tank, Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS). Dhanoa has offered the IAF's aircraft and in-house testing facilities with expertise from Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC) and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) for developing, testing and proving the indigenous product. He has also offered financial support to the project under the IAF's indigenization (R&D) fund.
After being proven, the technology can be commercialized across the country to supplement farmers' income. Farm waste and few more forest products may soon have to be re-classified as 'cash crops' in lieu of 'non-edible waste'. "This would portend a new era in the economics of Indian aviation industry, which aligns with the Prime Minister's vision on Biofuel".
