Environment friendly fuel not being used in domestic flights. Minister to MP Arora in RS

Punjab E News: The Carbon Offsetting Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) scheme is applicable for international flights only. So far, no decision with respect to usage of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in domestic flights has been taken. This has been stated by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in an answer to questions on status of sustainable aviation fuel asked by MP (Rajya Sabha) Sanjeev Arora in the ongoing Winter Session of Rajya Sabha.

In a statement here on today, Arora said in reply to his questions, the Minister further mentioned that International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has adopted a market-based measure i.e., CORSIA to reduce carbon emissions from international aviation. India, being a Member State of the ICAO, is under obligation to comply with the mandatory phase of CORSIA from 2027. Under the CORSIA scheme airlines are required to offset their emissions, above a set baseline.

CORSIA allows aircraft operators to reduce their offsetting requirements through the use of CORSIA eligible fuels, which include CORSIA sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and CORSIA lower carbon aviation fuels (LCAF). An aeroplane operator, which intends to claim for emissions reductions from the use of CORSIA Eligible Fuels, is required to use a CORSIA Eligible Fuel that meets the CORSIA Sustainability Criteria, defined in the ICAO document, “CORSIA Sustainability Criteria for CORSIA Eligible Fuels”.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel have same specifications/composition as Jet A1 fuels and are compatible with existing aircraft and fuel supply systems. To advance SAF use, Indian carriers have operated trial flights with blends of SAF with traditional Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). These trial flights included Ferry flight by Vistara of B787 from USA to India using 28% of SAF blended fuel and a Delhi-Mumbai flight on a Boeing 787 aircraft with a blend of 17% SAF; Domestic commercial flight by Air Asia (Pune to Delhi) with 0.75% SAF blended fuel; Flight by SpiceJet from Dehradun to Delhi with 25% SAF; and All Airbus ferry flights with 5% SAF blended fuel from Toulouse to India.

The Minister’s answer further mentioned that results in terms of fuel efficiency and emission reductions for the above-mentioned trial flights are not available with this Ministry. However, technical analysis done at ICAO shows that SAF has the greatest potential to reduce CO2 emissions from International Aviation.

Further, the answer mentioned that SAF must meet the requirements described in the relevant fuel specifications to be used on commercial aircraft. In order to become eligible, such fuels come from fuel producers that meet the criteria defined under ICAO CORSIA Sustainability Certification Scheme (SCS). These CORSIA eligible fuels can be produced and uplifted anywhere in the world. Currently the ICAO Council approve three Sustainability Certification Schemes.