CEMILAC Approves Usage Of Biofuel In Military Aircraft; IAF To Use It To Power An-32 For Republic Day

In a major development, the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) has, after numerous tests and experiments, granted clearance for the use of domestically produced biofuel in aircraft belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF), reports The New Indian Express.

"The indigenously produced biofuel has been finally cleared for usage by the premier airworthiness certification agency of the country," stated a senior official of the defense ministry.

According to an official, the approval means that the IAF will now be able to deliver on its commitment of flying the An-32 using a blend of biofuel in Republic Day celebrations tomorrow (26 January).

To enable usage of biofuel in military as well as civilian aircraft, the Bureau of Indian Standards has partnered with the IAF to formulate new standard regarding Aviation Turbine Fuels. The inputs of research organisations and the aviation industry were also taken into consideration.

"After a series of deliberations over the past nine months, an Indian Standard IS 17081:2019 Aviation Turbine Fuel (Kerosene Type, Jet A-1) containing Synthesised Hydrocarbons, has been formulated," the Ministry of Defense stated.

The ministry added that CEMILAC had granted the formal approval after it was satisfied that all performance parameters had been met. The non-conventional fuel type will include inputs such as non-edible vegetable or tree-borne oil.

The decision is also seen to benefit tribals and marginal farmers, who are involved in the collection of non-edible seeds, due to the uptick in demand of these items.