Jet Fuel Guidelines

One of the most critical aspects of operating an aviation fleet is to ensure that all aspects of your fueling operations are compliant with applicable industry and regulatory safety standards.

Two important references for aviation fueling professionals are NFPA 407 "Standard for Aircraft Fuel Servicing" and ATA Specification No.103. NFPA 407 is published by the National Fire Protection Association of Quincy, MA while A T A 103 is published by the Air Transport Association of America in Washington, D.C.

Here is a partial checklist of safety issues outlined in NFPA 407 and ATA 103 relating specifically to Jet Fuel handling that you should consider in evaluating the safety of your organization's fueling procedures.

Jet Fuel Receipt

The receiving storage tank should always be gauged prior to delivery to verify that there is sufficient room to accept the new fuel delivery.

Always connect a grounding cable to the delivery truck to prevent a difference in electrostatic potential.

After allowing the delivery truck to set for a minimum of ten minutes, conduct a "Clear and Bright Test" on each compartment to check for visible contaminants.

An API Gravity Test (conducted with an ASTM hydrometer similar to the ones used to check your automotive battery) should next be conducted on incoming Jet Fuel. API Gravity must be from 37 through 51 degrees, corrected to 60 degrees F. The API Gravity read on your hydrometer should match the reading recorded on the fuel delivery manifest (there should not be even 1 degree of variance).

All Jet Fuel should be filtered into storage upon receipt.

A minimum of thirty minutes for settling should be allowed before gauging and recording tank volume.  The receiving tank should be allowed to settle as long as possible before dispensing fuel from it. Settling time of one hour per foot of product delivered is desirable.

The sumps of all receiving tanks and filter should be drained after fuel receipt and a White Bucket test performed.

Under no circumstances is it acceptable to receive and dispense from the same tank simultaneously.

Jet Fuel Storage

Jet Fuel should only be stored in stainless steel, aluminum or steel tanks (which have an epoxy lining suitable specifically for Jet Fuel service).

Jet Fuel Storage Tanks should be equipped with a sump drain to remove accumulated water. A manual water drain valve (with frost protection) should also be provided on above-ground storage tanks. 

Jet Fuel Storage Tanks should be equipped with proper venting, both normal & emergency.

Jet Fuel should be recirculated through filtration on a regular (weekly) basis to maintain product quality. Fuel samples should be taken while the system is pressurized (flowing) to determine quality of stored product.

Proper signage is required for all Jet Fuel Storage Tanks & piping. Jet Fuel identification decals employ white letters on a black background. Pipe banding of Jet Fuel pipelines employs a single black band

Flammable, No Smoking, Emergency Shut-Off and other safety signage is to be provided in addition to product identification.

Jet Fuel Dispensing

Cast iron, copper and galvanized steel piping, valves and fittings are not permitted for use with aviation fuels. Ductile iron valves are permitted.

Jet Fuel Filter/Separators should meet API 1581, Group II, Class B, Third Edition performance criteria and be minimally equipped with an air eliminator with check valve, pressure relief valve, piston-type differential pressure gauge, and manual water drain valve. Date of the last filter change should always be marked on the vessel. In cold weather climates, an explosion-proof, thermostatically-controlled heater is recommended for installation in the filter sump housing.

Filter/Separators should be used to prevent the introduction of water contaminated fuel into the aircraft.

 

Aircraft fueling facilities must be designed and equipped with Emergency Fuel Shutoff Stations capable of shutting off fuel flow to all dispensing outlets.

All fuel dispensing systems should be equipped with a Deadman Control. For overwing refueling, this control is built into the manual overwing nozzle. For underwing (or single point) refueling, deadman control typically consists of a control valve with a hand-held electric or hydraulic deadman handle (switch) deployed via a cable or hose reel assembly.

Static Protection in the form of static cable reels should be employed to bond aircraft to refueling vehicles, carts or cabinets to prevent a difference in their electrostatic potential.

All refueling hoses should comply with API Bulletin 1529 and should each be serial numbered and furnished with certified test data.

Bottom Loading Nozzles should be equipped with a minimum 60 mesh strainer screen.

During fueling operations, fire extinguishers should be available on all aircraft servicing ramps and aprons. Each refueler trailer should be equipped with a minimum of two (2) 20-B:C Fire Extinguishers; one on each side of the vehicle. 

Best Practices: Mobile Fueling

Mobile refueling is an increasingly popular choice.  Saves significant time & money for virtually all users. 

In the past, small equipment was fueled by those familiar five gallon containers. Large equipment was fueled by "wet hoser" trucks, which pulled up to each piece of equipment individually to fill their tanks. 

Current "Best Practice" eliminates those messy five gallon cans, and most of the wet hoser fuel truck deliveries.  

Five gallon cans: 

• Small. Obviously, a 500 gallon TransFueler beats a 5 gallon can. By a factor of 100...
• Inefficient: Multiple leaky little containers to deal with.
• Expensive: Buying small amounts of fuel at "street" prices.
• Frequent spills: Who hasn't experienced this?
• Dangerous: Fuel spillage, skin contamination. Fire & health hazardous.
• Awkward to handle. And you have that fuel smell on you and in your vehicle all day.

Wet Hoser Fuel Truck:

• Inconvenient: Must pre-schedule fuel. Equipment sits idle waiting for fuel.
• Expensive: Every time the truck delivers on-site incurs a trip charge.
• More Expensive: Still not buying enough fuel to get the best bulk discounts.

TransFueler:

• Holds plenty of fuel to keep vehicles, equipment, generators or aircraft running.
• Vastly more efficient. Refuel 24/7, anywhere you need to.
• Much safer. Very low spill rate. Very low body contact with fuel.
• Easy to dispense fuel: Simple dispensing system keeps it easy to use.
• Less Expensive: Equipment keeps working until it needs refueling. 
• Less Expensive: Equipment operator keeps working until equipment needs refueling.
• Less Expensive: Buy larger quantities of fuel to get a lower price. 
• Less Expensive: Reduce trip charges by needing fewer fuel truck deliveries. 

 Looking at this, yes, it does look like an overt sales pitch. Reality is, each point is true. A TransFueler really does increase productivity & convenience, as well as save money. That results in a very real "Best Practice".

Why: Mobile Fueling

Mobile fueling is a quickly growing practice.  Think of the vehicles, equipment & aircraft that need to be refueled.  TransFueler mobile refuelers allow for simple & convenient refueling, where you need it, 24/7.

We'll outline three scenarios that benefit from TransFueler mobile refuelers. In this post, I will present the case of emergency medical / life flight type of helicopter operators. 

Helicopter Operator 

Our customer is America's largest operator of helicopters. Their primary business is providing emergency air ambulance / medical evacuation flights, and also operate tourism flights, and other commercial helicopter services in several locations. 

The company currently operates about 450 helicopters, from 300 bases, and employs around 5,000 people. Every year, they will provide over 100,000 medical emergency flights.  

Imagine the logistics of that... Nearly every flight is unscheduled; on demand. Crews and helicopters departing and returning constantly, around the clock. As soon as a helicopter returns to it's base, it is prepared for its next mission. Restocked with medical supplies, mechanically checked over, and refueled. 

Many of these helicopters are located at bases where there is not 24 hour fuel service. Others are based at hospitals, with no fuel service at all. Starting up and flying the helicopters to another airport just to refuel, is very, very costly & inefficient. 

Having a TransFueler on site, whether it's at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN, or a small airport in Nebraska means these life-saving helicopters can be refueled immediately upon returning form a mission.  Back in service, ready to go, 24/7...

The cost of a TransFueler Aviation refueler is minuscule compared to the saving of both money & time. To get an idea of the costs & savings involved, consider that it costs around $300 simply to start up and fly 15 minutes to another location to refuel. Then another $300 to start up and fly back to base.  (Rough figures, based on typical turbine helicopters commonly used)  Multiply that $600 by the number of times needed, and it adds up VERY quickly. Add in the fact that the aircraft & crew are not in service, or available to respond to a call during that hour it takes to accomplish the refueling trip. That's lost time that may dearly cost a patient awaiting transport.

Financially, TransFuelers are paid for very rapidly in these cases. Operationally,  simply imagine that you or a loved one are seriously ill or injured and need to be transported to a hospital IMMEDIATELY...

Best Practices 101

 Definition of best practice 

: a procedure that has been shown by research and experience to produce optimal results and that is established or proposed as a standard suitable for widespread adoption 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary 

The theory of "Best Practices" are common in most industries & professions. Over time and gained experience, methods and systems used are filtered down to identify what works best in different situations.  Makes sense, why keep trying different things to accomplish the same result?  

The use of industry best practices does not reduce the need for research & development of new ideas. It simply offers good methods to get the job done, in an efficient, safe & productive manner.  Most Standard operating Procedures (SOP) in industry are centered around the concept of "Best Practices".  

Regardless of your industry, profession or even personal interests, there are some best practices that apply to it. If you're not aware of any, think about what works best in your daily tasks. It's easy to identify a few areas that work well, and that you can pass along to others in your field. 

The result is that your own job will be easier, and more efficient if you identify what works best, and how to do it on a regular basis. Doesn't mean we stop looking for means of improvement.  Best practices give us a baseline to maintain, but doesn't limit us from improvements. Again, makes sense to keep things done properly. 

One issue I've experienced with adopting the use of best practices, is that they are sometimes developed by bureaucrats / management without solid input from the people doing the actual work. Who hasn't received work instructions from a boss who seemingly has no clue about how to actually do the job?

My first career as an airline pilot, was filled with hundreds of "Best Practices".  We had huge manuals loaded with information on aircraft operation, flight operations, emergency procedures, etc.  The airline / aviation industry is very much based around establishing and training for the use of best practices. Still, we often received bulletins from management that made no sense.  Mostly dealing with various delays, how to deal with passenger issues, etc.  A good example of leading from the top, without having a clue what really happens on the front line. 

Be careful not to push your best practices on your associates, without really knowing that they are indeed: best practices. Best practices exist to make the job more straightforward, not to add useless busywork. Make your best practices clear, able to be implemented, and actually useful. 

In the refueling realm, we know that TransFueler is a solid best practice.  I'll show you how in the next post.

Helicopter Aviation: How a TransFueler Will Save You Money

One of our largest TransFueler customer base is the helicopter industry. Particularly the "life flight", or airborne ambulance sector.  Airborne law enforcement is also a big user of TransFueler mobile refuelers. 

The three largest "life flight" type of companies all use TransFueler units to keep their helicopters ready to fly 24/7.  

Example: at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN, a TransFueler 750 gallon jet refueler stands ready to refuel the helicopter around the clock.  Prior to purchasing their TransFueler, the helicopter crew needed to fly the helicopter in between emergency flights to refuel.  That practice cost the operator thousands of dollars in wasted fuel, maintenance & crew time.  

You may not realize it, but simply starting the engine or engines on any helicopter is fairly expensive. Helicopter maintenance requirements are somewhat based on engine "cycles". That means: how many times was the engine started, run, and shut down.  Plus, add in some fuel to fly to a local airport, flight crew costs, and you can see how on site refueling saves a significant amount of money, time and maintenance.

It's estimated that the TransFueler refueler in service at the Mayo Clinic "paid for itself" in less than a year by cutting these costs.

In another example, a large (actually the world's largest) medical helicopter company has several helicopters based at small airports that simply don't have 24hr fuel service. They were forced to fly to a different airport to refuel, after transporting patients. Then fly back to their home base.  Again, wasting time & money. And adding yet another cycle to the engine...

In San Diego CA, the county fire department has a fleet of TransFuelers that are used to support air operations in the regions desert & mountain areas.  

San Diego County Fire

In Maricopa County AZ, the Sheriff's Department uses their fleet of TransFuelers to support law enforcement and search & rescue operations in the vast deserts surrounding Phoenix.  

Almost all 50 states have TransFuelers in operation supporting their medical helicopters, airborne law enforcement, and a wide variety of aviation uses. 

Along the southern border, a fleet of highly specialized TransFuelers provide aerial refueling of  surveillance blimps.  And the U.S. Customs & Border Patrol keeps their aircraft & vehicles running 24/7 with TransFuelers. 

Construction: How a TransFueler Will Save You Money.

Construction, particularly commercial, industrial & infrastructure sectors are capital intensive businesses.  

If you're involved in one of these type of companies, you're well aware of the cost of the heavy equipment, generators & vehicles required to keep your projects moving. Many of the industry's largest builders are using TransFueler mobile refuelers to keep their equipment fueled. 

Cost Factors:

• Downtime.  When your equipment & personnel are waiting for a fuel truck to arrive, you're losing productivity. Are you able to schedule fuel truck deliveries to match when your equipment will actually need fuel? How much does every minute of non-productivity cost? 

• Fuel truck trip charges. How much does it cost each time a fuel truck visits your job site? By storing fuel on-site, you require far fewer fuel truck deliveries.  Typically, these savings alone can pay for a single TransFueler in a matter of months. 

• Bulk purchasing. Buying hundreds or thousands of gallons of fuel at a time can be substantially cheaper than individual fill-ups. Let us help you negotiate fuel rates with your suppliers.

• Flexibility. Fuel your equipment 24/7.  Easily move your TransFueler around your job site for maximum efficiency. Take it to your other job sites to refuel equipment there as well.  Your TransFueler keeps your equipment, generators, light towers & vehicles working. 

 

The old way: high cost & inefficient:

 

The highly efficient TransFueler way: 

 

TransFueler in China

We are very pleased to announce that TransFueler has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Tallamond Inc. 

On April 26, 2018 Quality Fuel Trailer and Tank's president, Edward Dunn, and Tallamond's CEO; Winston Lee, signed a three year contract to sell TransFuelers in the People's Republic of China.  

TransFueler, by Quality Fuel Trailer and Tank, Inc., is an industry leader in mobile fuel trailers and refueling equipment.  Tallamond Inc. is a significant dealer of aerospace equipment and parts in China.  

TransFueler refueling equipment will now be sold throughout China by Tallamond's eight locations.  Tallamond's extensive network of business relationships in China will bring substantial opportunities of growth for both companies. 

Cessna China TransFueler

Off To China!

TransFueler is no stranger to China. Several TransFueler jet refuelers are already in service there.  Both Cessna Aircraft and Hiller Helicopter operate aircraft manufacturing facilities in China. Both use TransFuelers to fuel and test new aircraft before delivery. In the United States, almost all major aircraft manufacturers use TransFuelers at their production plants. 

Initially, Tallamond will focus marketing & sales efforts in the commercial and general aviation markets.  The People's Republic of China is in the beginning stages of a multi-billion general aviation expansion program. Hundreds of new airports are planned, or in construction. 

Tallamond will also be selling to the construction sector.  Fueling heavy equipment & generators is a key TransFueler market. Every airport project will need thousands of gallons of fuel for the associated construction equipment.  Rather than buying a large fuel truck, a TransFueler accomplishes the same job at a third of the cost, or less. 

China is a magnificent country; growing rapidly, and on the verge of massive opportunity. As a proud American company, we are very excited by this opportunity to provide the Chinese market with top quality equipment. 

We believe that the Chinese will be equally interested in procuring superb American made products.