Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has started the export of AVGAS 100 LL, a special aviation fuel meant for piston engine aircrafts and unmanned ariel vehicles (drones). “In the first-ever instance of India exporting this fuel, marking its entry into an estimated USD 2.7-billion global market,” IOC said in a statement.
AVGAS or Aviation gasoline is mostly used to power unmanned aerial vehicles and piston-engine aircraft used by Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) and defence forces for training pilots.
Until recently, AVGAS 100 LL fuel was imported at a huge cost from European countries for decades.
Since September 2022, IOC started producing AVGAS 100 LL at its Vadodara (Gujarat) refinery with an annual capacity of five thousand tonnes (TT) per annum.
AV GAS 100 LL has been tested and certified by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
IOC aims to tap the $1.92 billion aviation gasoline market by export of this fuel.
S M Vaidya, Chairman, IOC said: “There is a significant consumption of AVGAS in South America, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Therefore, there is a great opportunity to export AVGAS beyond the shores of India. As a first step in this direction, the first parcel of AVGAS produced in India was exported on date.”
This move will also pilot training in domestic flying institutes economical for new pilots. There are over 35 flying schools in the country and the indigenous availability of product will definitely benefit them.
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Indian Oil Corporation