Handling aircraft fuel must be done according to local airport safety regulations and rules. If not done properly the results can be really devastating to you and others. Aircraft fuel is highly combustible and burning avgas is only useful to us inside an engine while trying to rotate the propeller. Here we discuss safety practices for handling aircraft fuel.

As fuel prices rise, aircraft parked on an apron seem easy targets for fuel thieves these days. A small investment in fuelcaps with locks is worthwhile.

Make sure that you refuel with the proper fuel type. Avgas or gasoline engines are not created to use JET or diesel fuel.

Safety first when refueling

Fuel servicing personnel is according regulations trained in the safe operation of fueling equipment. As a pilot refueling your own aircraft you should observe at least the following guidelines:

• Check the color and type of fuel. 100 octane aviation gasoline (avgas) is green and 100 octane low lead avgas is blue. Jet fuel is usually clear, but sometimes it is a very light yellow color as is normal road diesel and biodiesel. Red diesel is, well, colored red.
• No smoking within at least 50 feet of an aircraft.
• Refuel outside only. Remember: when refueling an aircraft within a closed hanger a situation could develop where the combination of air and fuel vapors are very explosive! One spark due to static electricity and your flight will end prematurely.
• The aircraft and fueling vehicles or equipment should be grounded together to dissipate static electricity collected during refueling.
• Always keep fire extinguishers nearby.
• Portable electronic devices should be switched off (cellphones, radio's, pagers).
• If a spill occurs, refueling should be stopped and the airport fire department notified, if necessary.
• Ground power units should not be connected or disconnected during refueling.
• Persons refueling aircraft should not carry lighters or matches when refueling.
• At the first sight of lightning in the area, refueling operations should be suspended.
• Refueling may not be conducted with passengers on board the aircraft.
• Avoid contact with fuel. The health risks are high if fuel gets into your body, this is possible via the eyes, skin contact, ingestion of via inhalation. Get medical help if this happens.
• Wait some 30 minutes before sampling fuel, gently rock the wings so that any water and debris can settle near the sample port.

When refueling your aircraft from jerrycans (NATO style or the plastic containers) it is best to use a good filter before pouring fuel into the tanks. Mr. Funnel sells (via aircraft parts suppliers) a very good electrically conductive fuel, water and debris filter/separator. They come in different capacities in terms of flow capacity (up to 15 gpm). Recommended!

Never use plastic containers to refuel aircraft, they build up static electricity easily during refueling and one spark and some fuel vapors is enough for a disaster. Read more on fuel and refueling in this Aviation Fueling Handbook from the Alaska division of Forestry, it's a must read.