SpiceJet Ltd. today operated India's first test flight powered by biojet fuel, according to the airline.
A Bombardier Q400 aircraft, partially using biojet fuel, took off from Dehradun and landed at the airport in New Delhi.
The flight was powered with a blend of 75 percent aviation turbine fuel and 25 percent 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 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, SpiceJet said.
Around 20 people, including officials from aviation regulator 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 that the 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 percent on every flight and bring down fares,” he said.
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