Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)

In news:

• The Minister for Civil Aviation has emphasized on the need to bring Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) under GST.

About ATF

• Aviation Turbine Fuel is a specialized byproduct of crude or petroleum used to power aircraft.
• It must meet performance guidelines for both the rich mixture condition required for take-off power settings and the cleaner mixtures used during cruise to reduce fuel consumption.
• The primary functions of ATF (jet fuel) are to power an aircraft, maintain energy content and combustion quality.
• Other significant performance properties of the product are stability, lubricity, fluidity, volatility, non-corrosivity and cleanliness.
• Besides providing a source of energy, fuel is also used as hydraulic fluid in engine control systems and as a coolant for certain fuel system components.
• There are currently two main grades of ATF are in use in civil commercial aviation: jet A-1 and jet A, both are kerosene type fuels.
• Another grade is also found called Jet –B which is wide cut kerosene (a blend of gasoline and kerosene) but it is rarely used except in very cold climates.
  • A-1 is a kerosene grade of fuel suitable for most turbine engine aircraft. It is produced to a stringent internationally agreed standard, has a flash point above 38 degrees centigrade and a freeze point maximum of minus 47 degrees centigrade.
  • A is a similar kerosene type of fuel, produced and normally only available in the U.S. It has the same flash point as jet A-1 but a higher maximum freeze point.
  • B is a distillate covering the naphtha and kerosene fractions. It can be used as an alternative to jet A-1 but it is more difficult to handle (higher flammability), there is only significant demand in very cold climates where its better cold weather performance is important.

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Q. Regarding Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The commonly used grades of ATF are kerosene type fuels

2. ATF doesn’t fall under the GST regime currently in India

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a. 1 only

b. 2 only

c. Both 1 and 2

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims question