A ceremony was performed in Hangar 2 of PT Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia Tbk (GMF), Tangerang, to commemorate the successful bioavtur flight test. Prof. Reini Wirahadikusumah, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering ITB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Tata Cipta Dirgantara, M.T., Chair of the ITB Merah-Putih Catalyst Research Team, Prof. Dr. Ir. Subagjo, and the Head of the ITB Research Team for the Bioavtur Flight Test, Dr. Eng. Ir. Iman K. were present at this event.

Bioavtur is an initiative to employ biofuels in the aviation industry in order to reduce global carbon emissions. The development of catalysts by Pertamina in partnership with ITB is one of the keys to producing bioavtur.

It's been a long road to the successful flight test stage. In 2012, Pertamina Research and Technology Innovation (Pertamina RTI) collaborated with ITB Catalytic Engineering Center (PRK-ITB) to develop a Merah-Putih catalyst to convert palm kernel oil into bioavtur raw materials in 2012.

In addition, the collaboration with PT KPI (Pertamina International Refinery) was expanded to conduct industrial-scale co-processing production tests at Refinery Unit (RU) IV Cilacap to process a mixture of RBDPKO (Refined, Bleached, and Deodorized Palm Kernel Oil) and kerosene using the Merah-Putih catalysts. J2.4, a 2.4 %-v bioavtur, was effectively created in this test.

Then, a series of technical tests were conducted from September 8 to October 6, 2021, concluding in the flight test and In-Flight Engine Restarting test. This success would be the first step toward growing bioavtur's contribution to the air transportation industry in order to increase national energy security and independence.

This activity is part of the National Strategic Project (PSN) for Catalyst Industry Downstreaming and Biohydrocarbon Fuels, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. It is also developed under the National Research Priority Storefront (PRN) for the Development of Palm Oil and Palm Kernel-Based Vegetable Fuel Production Technology, which is coordinated by the National Agency for Research and Development (BRIN).

"Today, thanks to the support and cooperation of all stakeholders involved, the inaugural flight using biofuel, a 2.4 percent bioavtur mixture that the Indonesian nation has been waiting for, has finally been carried out covering the distance from Bandung to Jakarta using a CN235 aircraft," said the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arifin Tasrif, as quoted in the release of the CN235-220 FTB Aircraft Testing Success Ceremony.

Airlangga Hartarto, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, who was present virtually, stated in his remarks that the triple helix concept, which is a collaboration between academics, industry, and the government, has been carried out well in flight test operations utilizing
bioavtur. As a result, this success will be one of the efforts in developing Indonesia as a research and innovation-based country in the future.

"The success of this bioavtur flying test has given us great confidence in our ability to utilize locally available resources, particularly palm oil, to establish national energy independence. As a result, this will have an influence on lowering energy dependence on imports, which will boost economic growth," Airlangga stated.

Novie Rianto, Director General of Civil Aviation, praised the achievement of creating alternative aircraft fuels. This is consistent with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's plan, which encourages the use of alternative aviation fuels.

"The utilization of biofuels for airplanes is a type of attempt to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation sector in compliance with ICAO standards," Novie explained.

Meanwhile, PT Pertamina (Persero) President Director Nicke Widyawati said that the J2.4 bioavtur produced by PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional (PT KPI) in the Cilacap plant has demonstrated performance comparable to fossil fuel avtur.

Since 2014, PT Pertamina has been at the forefront of bioavtur research and development with its Dumai and Cilacap Refinery Units. Nicke noted that the performance of bioavtur was optimal, with a performance differential of only 0.2 – 0.6 percent compared to the performance of fossil avtur. "Bioavtur J2.4 contains 2.4 percent of plant-based elements, which is the maximum achievement with the current catalyst technology," Nicke explained.

Andi Fahrurrozi, President Director of GMF, noted that during the process, GMF always complies to the procedures set by aircraft engine manufacturers. A unique technique is also followed to ensure that A1 jet fuel and J2.4 bioavtur do not mix during testing, resulting in relevant and reliable results. "As a result, the two's performances are fairly close. Because there is no noticeable difference, the J2.4 bioavtur was determined to be eligible for the non-static test stage on the CN235-220 aircraft," said Andi.

Eddy Abdurrachman, President Director of the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS), remarked that BPDPKS is committed to continuing to contribute and support research funding in order to support the Government's program to meet the energy mix target.

BPDPKS support initiatives include research assistance for biodiesel development, biohydrocarbon development, and the conversion of biomass to electricity. ITB's research funding, chaired by Prof. Subagjo, has resulted in advancements in the processing and production of green diesel, green gasoline known as palm gasoline, and green avtur known as bioavtur. Funding for bioavtur testing is available from static testing to flight testing.

Since 2012, academic bioavtur testing on a laboratory scale has been conducted at the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering ITB. In collaboration with Hokkaido University, Japan, Asean University Networking/Southeast Engineering Education Development (AUN/SEED-Net), JICA, and Pertamina, Iman K Reksowardojo, as the Head of the ITB Research Team for the Bioavtur Flight Test, revealed that this research activity has produced several Doctorates, Masters, and Bachelors, both from within and outside the country, as well as international scientific journals of high reputation.

Prof. Subagjo, the Head of the ITB Catalyst Research Team, believes that this modest ripple of success would grow and create a great wave of success in the country's process technology field. Therefore, this can be replicated in other fields to achieve similar, if not larger, effects.

Reporter: Adi Permana
Translator: Sekar Dianwidi Bisowarno (Bioengineering, 2019)