Fuel servicing intended destination and accommodate for any emergency procedures. While the process tends to follow set operations that only slightly vary from aircraft to aircraft, there are certain hazards that need to be considered in order to protect individuals, the aircraft, and the surrounding environment when such procedures are carried out. In this blog, we will discuss the process of aircraft fuel servicing, allowing you to understand how individuals carry out fuel identification, contamination control, hazard prevention, and more.
Two types of aviation fuel are commonly used by a majority of modern aircraft, those of which are aviation gasoline (AVGAS) and turbine fuel (JET A). Aviation gasoline is most often implemented within reciprocating engine aircraft and may come in three different grades for general use. These grades are 80/87, 100/130, and 100LL, and the two numbers are used to convey lean mixture and rich mixture octane ratings. For 100/130 AVGAS, for example, the lean mixture grading is 100 while the rich mixture grading is 130. AVGAS may also be classified with color codes, and these colors are set to a standard that correlates to common grades. For instance, red colors denote grade 80 fuel, green colors denote 100 grade fuel, blue colors denote 100LL grade fuel, and purple colors denote 115 grade fuel.
Turbine jet fuel, meanwhile, is useful for turbojet engine and turboshaft engine types, commonly coming in the form of JET A, JET A-1, and JET B variations. While JET A and JET A-1 are both made from kerosene, JET B is kerosene blended together with AVGAS. Prior to mixing any turbine fuel type with AVGAS, one should refer to the specific Type Certificate Data Sheet of the engine in question in order to prevent any undesired damage or issues. Aviation fuel such as AVGAS can result in lead deposits collecting in turbine engines, reducing the service life of various components.
As aviation fuel is at risk of contamination, control and management is paramount for avoiding engine failure. While contamination may occur within the fuel tank of an aircraft fuel system, present filters, separators, and screens will guard such areas. Contamination typically comes in the form of water, solid contaminants, and microbiological growths, all of which can come from different sources. Between the time of procuring fuel and its implementation, users should always be adamant about upholding protection against contamination with proper handling, storage, and other practices.
As fuel can present high hazards of fire outbreaks, all personnel should carry out fueling procedures with care while avoiding electrostatic discharges, sparks, and other ignition sources. For smaller aircraft types, fueling is often carried out through the over-the-wing method. With this procedure, a fuel hose is used to fill a wing tank with AVGAS, utilizing present fueling ports. For larger aircraft, meanwhile, receptacles in the bottom leading edge of wings are used to fill tanks with fuel while reducing the chance of contamination and static electricity discharges. When filling any aircraft tank, the aircraft electrical system and all electronic devices should be powered off, ample protection for workers and the aircraft must be upheld, and procedures always should follow the specifications of the aircraft in question.
By following the correct procedures for choosing the right aviation fuel and for refueling aircraft fuel tanks, owners and operators can ensure that their aircraft continue to operate efficiently and safely. ASAP Components is a premier purchasing platform of parts, offering customers competitive pricing and rapid lead-times on countless new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find items that cater to a variety of applications and industries. With our team readily available for customers 24/7x365, we can provide you with competitive quotes for your comparisons in just 15 minutes or less upon the submission of an Instant RFQ form. Get started today and see how we can serve as your strategic sourcing partner for all your operational needs.
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