SpiceJet debuts biofuel-powered flights in India

ChiragM · 29th August 2018, 14:34

SpiceJet has operated India's first biofuel-powered flight. A Bombardier Q400 aircraft was used for the test flight from Dehradun to Delhi, which lasted nearly 45 minutes. With the successful test flight, India has become one of the few countries in the world to use biofuel for planes.

SpiceJet debuts biofuel-powered flights in India-spicejetbiofuelflight.jpg

The plane carried 28 people including officials from the DGCA, SpiceJet, Indian Institute of Petroleum and 5 crew members. For the test flight, the aircraft's right engine was fed with 75% aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and 25% biofuel. 330 kg of biofuel was prepared for the flight by CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun from the Jatropha plant.

The fuel, which is recognised by American Standard Testing Method (ASTM), meets the required specification standards set by Pratt & Whitney and Bombardier for commercial application in aircraft.

The Petroleum Ministry has also announced that it will be introducing a new biofuel policy. The government is hopeful that the increased use of biofuel would benefit farmers and reduce oil imports.

On August 26, SpiceJet tested a biofuel-powered flight for 20 minutes in the skies around Dehradun. The Dehradun-Delhi flight was carried out only after the initial test flight yielded positive results.

Source: Economic Times

Image Source: Conde Nast Traveller India

Link to Team-BHP news

wanderernomad · 29th August 2018, 17:51

There was a Mercedes and Audi sponsored project for Bio Fuel from the Jatropha plant sometime around 2004 as well,I think. The plants were grown in Gujrat but it flopped and at that time it was not found to be commercially viable. Lets see what happens to the current experiment.

V.Narayan · 29th August 2018, 20:13

Very interesting. Only with experimentation will we know what works and what doesn't. 15% is the upper limit to which a bio-fuel can be mixed with regular petroleum based fuels and still have the engine (ICE or turbine) function normally. Bio-fuels have a calorific value of (I think) one third of regular aviation fuel and so to that extent reduces endurance/range by a bit. The big question of course is how much of scarce agro land should be devoted to bio-fuels versus food. There are no easy answers. Can agro wastes be converted to such bio-fuels - I don't think so. An area to watch.

29th August 2018, 14:34	#1
ChiragM Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,565 Thanked: 17,775 Times	SpiceJet debuts biofuel-powered flights in India SpiceJet has operated India's first biofuel-powered flight. A Bombardier Q400 aircraft was used for the test flight from Dehradun to Delhi, which lasted nearly 45 minutes. With the successful test flight, India has become one of the few countries in the world to use biofuel for planes. The plane carried 28 people including officials from the DGCA, SpiceJet, Indian Institute of Petroleum and 5 crew members. For the test flight, the aircraft's right engine was fed with 75% aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and 25% biofuel. 330 kg of biofuel was prepared for the flight by CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun from the Jatropha plant. The fuel, which is recognised by American Standard Testing Method (ASTM), meets the required specification standards set by Pratt & Whitney and Bombardier for commercial application in aircraft. The Petroleum Ministry has also announced that it will be introducing a new biofuel policy. The government is hopeful that the increased use of biofuel would benefit farmers and reduce oil imports. On August 26, SpiceJet tested a biofuel-powered flight for 20 minutes in the skies around Dehradun. The Dehradun-Delhi flight was carried out only after the initial test flight yielded positive results. Source: Economic Times Image Source: Conde Nast Traveller India Link to Team-BHP news Last edited by ChiragM : 29th August 2018 at 14:38.
	(8) Thanks

29th August 2018, 17:51	#2
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,536 Thanked: 1,279 Times View My Garage	Re: SpiceJet debuts biofuel-powered flights in India There was a Mercedes and Audi sponsored project for Bio Fuel from the Jatropha plant sometime around 2004 as well,I think. The plants were grown in Gujrat but it flopped and at that time it was not found to be commercially viable. Lets see what happens to the current experiment.
	(2) Thanks

29th August 2018, 20:13	#3
V.Narayan Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Delhi-NCR Posts: 4,148 Thanked: 67,024 Times	Re: SpiceJet debuts biofuel-powered flights in India Very interesting. Only with experimentation will we know what works and what doesn't. 15% is the upper limit to which a bio-fuel can be mixed with regular petroleum based fuels and still have the engine (ICE or turbine) function normally. Bio-fuels have a calorific value of (I think) one third of regular aviation fuel and so to that extent reduces endurance/range by a bit. The big question of course is how much of scarce agro land should be devoted to bio-fuels versus food. There are no easy answers. Can agro wastes be converted to such bio-fuels - I don't think so. An area to watch.
	(3) Thanks