PROCEDURES FOR DEFUELING/REFUELLING OF
AIRCRAFT
1) Defueling of aircraft and into bowser
a. Ensure:
i. aircraft is grounded and bonded
ii. anti-collision lights are set to OFF
iii. electrical circuits in fuel system is complete
iv. landing gear is cooled down
v. unnecessary equipment is cleared from the area and below the aircraft
vi. main engines are turned off
vii. wheel chocks are away from the tires
viii. no presence of bad weather/CAT 1 condition (lightning risk)
ix. fire extinguishers are accessible
x. NO SMOKING warning notices are put around the area
b. Obey the safety distances from aircraft
c. Proceed with defueling of aircraft
d. Defueling personnel to carry out the following visual inspections on fuel with
mandatory PPE:
i. White Bucket test (refer to procedures)
ii. Clear and Bright test (refer to procedures)
iii. Microbiological Contamination using fuelstat
e. Once the visual checks are done, clean and contaminated fuel are inserted fuel
into bowser
f. If a spill occurs during defueling,
i. stop the fuel flow immediately
ii. report fuel spills within 48 hours
iii. fuel servicing shall not resume until:
spill has been cleared
conditions are safe
cause of spill has been corrected
2) Bowser to transfer the fuel into temporary storages
a. Ensure fuel storage tanks are/have:
i. fully accessible for inspection, testing, and repair
ii. access manways
iii. positive and manual or electric sumps with a manual drain valves
iv. venting and overfill protection as well as alarms
v. standard identification signs on tanks and piping
vi. moisture free to prevent bacterial growth and gumming
vii. are kept in a cool, dry place away from excessive heat and direct
sunlight
viii. regularly inspected for damage or leakages
ix. accessible fire extinguishers
b. If a spill occurs during the transferring of fuel,
i. stop the fuel flow immediately
ii. report fuel spills within 48 hours
c. Samples of bad quality fuel are to be taken and sent for laboratory checks:
i. Solid Particulate Contamination Detection
ii. Electrical Conductivity
iii. Density
d. Filtration of fuel to clean quality fuel
3) Filling up of fuel to bowser from temporary storages
a. Ensure fuel storage tanks are/have:
i. fully accessible for inspection, testing, and repair
ii. access manways
iii. positive and manual or electric sumps with a manual drain valves
iv. venting and overfill protection as well as alarms
v. standard identification signs on tanks and piping
vi. moisture free to prevent bacterial growth and gumming
vii. are kept in a cool, dry place away from excessive heat and direct
sunlight
viii. regularly inspected for damage or leakages
ix. accessible fire extinguishers
b. If a spill occurs during the transferring of fuel,
i. stop the fuel flow immediately
ii. report fuel spills within 48 hours
4) Aircraft refuelling via bowser
a. Ensure:
i. aircraft is grounded and bonded
ii. anti-collision lights are set to OFF
iii. electrical circuits in fuel system is complete
iv. there is NO display indication of fire or engine overheat warning
v. landing gear is cooled down
vi. unnecessary equipment is cleared from the area and below the aircraft
vii. main engines are turned off
viii. wheel chocks are away from the tires
ix. no presence of bad weather/CAT 1 condition (lightning risk)
x. fire extinguishers are accessible
xi. NO SMOKING warning notices are put around the area
b. Obey the safety distances from aircraft
c. Proceed with refuelling of aircraft
d. If a spill occurs during refuelling,
i. stop the fuel flow immediately
ii. report fuel spills within 48 hours
iii. fuel servicing shall not resume until:
spill has been cleared
conditions are safe
cause of spill has been corrected
