India has significant potential for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which can help reduce carbon emissions, global airlines’ grouping International Air Transport Association (IATA) said amid rising air travel. In 2023, the production of SAF stood at around 0.5 million tonnes and the amount has to be increased multiple folds by 2050. SAF production has to increase by around 1,000 times to reach 500 million tonnes by 2050.  In a related development, NTPC is exploring ways to produce sustainable jet fuel by mixing carbon from its thermal power plant and green hydrogen.

Thiruvananthapuram international airport has made history by becoming the first airport in India to achieve the zero waste to landfill (ZWL) accolade. This recognition, awarded by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII-ITC) Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, highlights the airport’s exceptional waste management practices and commitment to sustainability. The ZWL assessment confirmed that the airport has successfully implemented best-in-class waste management strategies, achieving an impressive 99.50 per cent diversion of waste from landfills. The airport managed to completely divert 100 per cent of its plastic waste and 100 per cent of its municipal solid waste (MSW), which includes both wet and dry waste, from landfills. Major sources of waste include paper, cutlery, food, and road waste all of which contribute to municipal solid waste.

Aircraft ordered by IndiGo and Air India last year, a total of 970 Boeing and Airbus planes, will come fitted with receivers that can capture ‘augmented satellite signals’ and thus carry out an approach and landing without any help from ground-based navigation aids. In the initial stages, though, such futuristic landings will be limited to smaller airports of India.

Pilots landing in larger airports such as Delhi and Mumbai may use them only as a backup when the ground-based high precision instrument landing system (ILS) falters. The ILS at big airports offer a high-precision descent angle guidance that also directs aircraft to the runway centreline.

Anticipating a shortage of pilots, Air India is setting up a school in Maharashtra’s Amravati to train as many as 180 pilots a year. Air India wants to be in control of the supply of the next generation of pilots and the school will be a critical part of the national carrier’s long-term talent pipeline. In a related development, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory circular on “gender equality in the civil aviation sector” for industry stakeholders. The circular aims to increase the number of women in various positions to 25 percent by 2025 in India’s aviation industry.  

Cochin Airport has introduced a pet export service, bringing cheer to pet owners moving abroad who cannot bear to leave their beloved animals behind. A Lhasa Apso puppy named ‘Luka’ was the first pet to fly from Kochi to Dubai via Doha. The pet cargo was handled by Qatar Airways. With this, it became the only airport in Kerala with the permission to export pets abroad. To support this service, CIAL has established a 24-hour air-conditioned pet station, a special cargo section, veterinary doctor on call, a customs clearance centre, and a facilitation centre for individuals accompanying pets for export. Previously, CIAL had authorisation only for domestic departure and arrival of pets. Now, pets can be carried as cargo in specially prepared cages to all foreign countries.