Jet fuel is a refined, kerosene-based hydrocarbon fuel formulated for use in gas turbine (jet) engines. Commercial aviation predominantly uses Jet A in the United States and Jet A-1 internationally, while military services use specification fuels such as JP-8 (the NATO F-34 battlefield fuel, essentially Jet A-1 with additional additives), JP-5 (a higher-flashpoint fuel required for shipboard use), and Russian/CIS TS-1. These fuels are refined middle-distillate kerosenes blended and additized to control freezing point, thermal stability, electrical conductivity, icing, and microbial growth. Fuel selection and additive packages vary by operator, climate, and airframe/engine manufacturer requirements; always consult the applicable specification and the aircraft flight manual before use.
Jet Fuel as an Aviation Turbine Fuel
Specifications
| Fuel | Governing Specification | NATO Designation | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jet A | ASTM D1655 | — | U.S. domestic commercial aviation |
| Jet A-1 | ASTM D1655, DEF STAN 91-091, AFQRJOS Issue | F-35 | International commercial aviation |
| JP-8 | MIL-DTL-83133, NATO F-34 | F-34 | U.S. and NATO military ground/air forces |
| JP-5 | MIL-DTL-5624, NATO F-44 | F-44 | U.S. Navy shipboard aviation (high flashpoint) |
| Jet B | ASTM D6615, CGSB 3.22 (NATO F-40) | F-40 | Cold-climate/wide-cut aviation fuel |
| TS-1 | GOST 10227 | — | Russian/CIS commercial and military aviation |
| Avgas (100LL) | ASTM D910, DEF STAN 91-090 | F-18 | Piston-engine (spark-ignition) general aviation |
Common Refiners & Suppliers
| Supplier | Typical Products | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shell Aviation | Jet A-1, Jet A, JP-8 | Global into-plane and bulk supply network. |
| ExxonMobil Aviation | Jet A, Jet A-1 | Major U.S. and international commercial supplier. |
| Chevron | Jet A, Jet A-1 | Domestic U.S. refining and distribution. |
| BP Air | Jet A-1, JP-8 | Global commercial and defense fuel supply. |
| TotalEnergies | Jet A-1 | European and international supply. |
| World Fuel Services | Jet A, Jet A-1 | Fuel resale, logistics, and into-plane services. |
| Phillips 66 / Kendall | Jet A | Domestic U.S. refining. |
| Defense Logistics Agency (DLA Energy) | JP-8, JP-5 | U.S. Department of Defense bulk fuel procurement. |
Properties — Jet A / Jet A-1 (ASTM D1655)
| Property | Specification | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel type | Kerosene | Kerosene |
| Density @ 15 °C (kg/m³) | 775 to 840 | 800 to 810 |
| Kinematic viscosity mm²/s — @ −20 °C | 8.0 max | 4.5 to 5.5 |
| Freezing point (°C) — Jet A | −40 max | −47 |
| Freezing point (°C) — Jet A-1 | −47 max | −50 |
| Flashpoint — Cleveland Closed Cup (°C) | 38 min | 42 to 50 |
| Net heat of combustion (MJ/kg) | 42.8 min | 43.1 |
| Smoke point (mm) | 25 min (or 18 min with naphthalenes limit) | 20 to 25 |
| Aromatics (% vol) | 25 max | 18 |
| Sulfur, total (% mass) | 0.3 max | 0.05 to 0.1 |
| Sulfur, mercaptan (% mass) | 0.003 max | <0.001 |
| Distillation — 10% recovered (°C) | 205 max | 180 to 200 |
| Distillation — final boiling point (°C) | 300 max | 260 to 280 |
| Existent gum (mg/100mL) | 7 max | 1 to 2 |
| Thermal stability (JFTOT) — tube deposit rating | ≤3 (visual, no peacock/abnormal deposit) | <1 |
| Electrical conductivity (pS/m) | 50 to 450 (with static dissipater additive) | 150 to 300 |
| Water reaction interface rating | 1b max | 1 |
| Copper strip corrosion, 2 hrs @ 100 °C | No. 1 max | No. 1 |
Jet Fuel Property Calculators
Explore the full set of jet fuel property calculators on KasperCalc: