Bhubaneswar: The Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar is set to undergo a major technological and infrastructural transformation with the introduction of a modern hydrant-based aircraft fuelling system to enhance aviation safety, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability.
Sources said moves are afoot to phase out the decades-old practice of manual aircraft refuelling through bowsers. The construction of an integrated Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) storage and hydrant facility is in progress. Both will be ready by the middle of next year and operational by the end of 2027, according to airport officials.
The installation, featuring three 2,000 kilolitre capacity tanks and a hydrant fuelling system, will allow aircraft to be refuelled directly at the bay, eliminating the need for fuel bowsers to transport ATF across the airside.
Describing the development as a transformational step in enhancing both safety and efficiency, officials said the hydrant system will save turnaround time, reduce risks of trespassing and minimise operational delays.
The project involves laying a 2.36km pipeline network connected to 18 hydrant points across the apron. This system will go a long way in enhancing safety and reducing the possibility of vehicle-related incidents.
Officials say the facility will bring operational benefits, including reduced vehicle traffic and fewer bowsers on the tarmac, minimising risks of accidents and conflicts. Aircraft bays are expected to be less crowded, improving safety for passengers and crew, along with faster refuelling.
The hydrant fuelling system will operate as a closed-loop mechanism, ensuring controlled transfer of ATF from storage tanks to aircraft. The storage facility is already connected by pipe from oil depot at Jatni. This reduces dependence on multiple handling stages and minimises risks of spills, leakages and contamination, officials said.
The facility is being designed in line with international aviation fuel-handling standards and best practices, they added.
