In a first, national oil marketer Indian Oil Corporation has begun exporting aviation gasoline, the fuel used in unmanned aerial vehicles and small planes, changing the country’s fuel history from net importer to exporter. Over the weekend, the first consignment of 80 barrels of aviation gas (AV gas), each containing 16 kilolitres, was shipped from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) to Papua New Guinea. According to the company, this is the first time India has exported this fuel, which was produced at IOC’s Vadodara refinery, and marks India’s entry into a USD 2.7 billion global market.
Unmanned aerial vehicles and piston-engine aircraft used by flying schools are powered by aviation gasoline. It is a higher-octane aviation fuel that meets product specifications, has superior performance and quality standards, and is less expensive than imported grades. Aviation turbine fuel is the fuel used to power the engines of large commercial jets (ATF).
“The indigenous production of the gas known as AV gas 100 LL will not only help save foreign exchange but will also make training in domestic flying schools affordable for aspiring pilots,” according to IOCL. The primary grade of AV gas is intended for use in piston engine aircraft, which are primarily used for pilot training by flying institutes and defence forces. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has tested and certified the gas. The product will benefit the country’s more than 35 flying schools.