FA18 Hornet and Joint Strike Fighter: Aviation Fuel

Mr Baldwin asked the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, in writing, on 29 October 2009:

1. What chemicals are contained within the aviation fuel used by (a) F/A-18 Hornet, and (b) F-35 JSF, and what is the impact of such chemicals on a person’s physical or mental health.
2. How much fuel does an F/A-18 Hornet consume per hour.
3. How much unburnt fuel or ash does an F/A-18 Hornet produce per hour.
4. What chemicals are contained in the unburnt fuel and what are their relative levels of toxicity.
5. Will the F-35 JSF consume more fuel than the F/A-18 Hornet; if so, how much more; if not, how much less.
6. Have any studies been undertaken to ascertain what effects (a) unburnt fuel, and (b) jettisoned fuel, have on surface infrastructure and human populations; if so, what were the key findings.

Mr Combet - The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

1. (a) and (b)  The fuel used by the F/A-18 Hornet is Jet Propellant 8 (JP-8), also known by the NATO code F-34. When introduced, the Australian F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) plans to operate using this fuel.
   
   Within Australia, JP-8 is base commercial jet Fuel (Jet A-1 ) with additives. JP-8 is a Kerosene type turbine fuel that contains:
   • Hydrocarbons greater than 99 per cent;
   • Static dissipator additive also known as the commercial product (Octel Stadis 450);
   • Corrosion inhibitor/lubricity improver;
   • Fuel system icing inhibitor - diethylene glycol monomethyl ether;
   • Antioxidant; and
   • Metal Deactivator – N, N-disalicylidene 1,2-propane diamine. However, this is very rarely added.
   
   Information regarding the health effects of JP-8 is available at the following website  (http://ohsc.defence.gov.au/msds/ (This site has since been removed due to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth))).
2. On average approximately 6,000 litres.
3. A specific measure of unburnt fuel or ash can not be determined due to the wide variety of conditions a Hornet operates in and its flight profile. 
4. Unburnt fuels contain hydrocarbons, aromatics and polyaromatics hydrocarbons (PAH) that have varying degrees of toxicity, and additives such as antioxidants, fuel system icing inhibitor, lubricity improvers, metal deactivators and static dissipaters. Toxicity levels are set in the initial product Material Safety Data Sheet. Fuels are always changing and as a result the levels of certain compounds may decrease (especially with respect to sulfur based species due to refining processes) and hence their relative toxicity may be affected. The Material Safety Data Sheet for JP-8 can be accessed using the following link http://www.chevronglobalaviation.com/docs/jp8.doc (This link is no longer available)
5. The fuel usage for both the F/A-18A/B and F-35 JSF varies according to operational factors, such as configuration and internal fuel carried. The JSF is still in the early stages of flight testing so final fuel flow figures are yet to be verified.
6. The New Air Combat Capability Public Environment Report was listed for public access on 6 October 2009 at the website http://www.nextairgeneration.com.au (This link is no longer available) . Issues regarding unburnt and jettisoned fuel are discussed within that document. This document also references a 2002 study into the potential impacts of aircraft exhaust emissions and fuel deposition in proximity to RAAF Base Williamtown and Salt Ash Air Weapons Range. The 2002 study found no evidence of detectable contamination of rainwater tanks or collecting surfaces (typically roofs).

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