Indian Air Force (IAF) has trialled its first biofuel-led flight in an attempt to become more environmentally friendly in the future and reduce its carbon dioxide emissions.
Earlier last month (December 17th), IAF flew military aircraft powered with a combination of biofuel from Jatropha (ten per cent) and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), which made up 90 per cent of the jet’s energy source, New Indian Express reported.
Speaking with the news provider, an IAF officer said: “IAF’s AN 32 transport aircraft took off at 10:30 am from the Chandigarh airbase and remained airborne for about 45 minutes.”
The air force decided to test the biofuel blend to help it reduce its carbon footprint, as well as cut down on its fuel import expenses. It is thought the organisation spends Rs 40,000 crores for ATF a year (£4.5 billion), which will fall by between ten and 15 per cent if aircraft used biofuel as well.
A senior officer told the Financial Express that the aircraft flew for nearly one hour and “the flight was perfect”.
After more AN 32 transport aircraft begin to use biofuels as their source of power, the IAF will provide biofuel blends for its other machines, including the MiG-29 and Su-30 MKI.
It is clear the Indian government has been making a concerted effort to go green lately, after it recently expanded its Ethanol Blended Petrol programme to increase the boundaries placed upon extracting fuel from food grains.
Krishi Jagran reported that it will now allow fuel to be generated from excess maize, jawar, and bajra, as well as fruit and vegetable waste.