Safe Aircraft Refuelling

The main threat during refuelling operation is the fire threat.

The general safety precautions for refuelling/defuelling are available in:

• the A220 AMP SERVICING – REPLENISHING AND DEPLETING – FUEL REPLENISHING AND DEPLETING
• the A300/A310 AMM SERVICING – REPLENISHING OF FUEL TANKS
• the A320/A330/A340 AMM  SERVICING – FUEL – FUEL SYSTEM – SERVICING – General Refuel/Defuel Safety Procedures 
• the A380 AMM FUEL – REFUEL/DEFUEL SYSTEM – SERVICING – General Refuel/Defuel Safety Procedures 
• the A350 MP FUEL – DISTRIBUTION – REFUEL/DEFUEL SYSTEM  – MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES – General Refuel/Defuel Safety Procedures 

In addition to the availability of the firefighting equipment and use of personal protection by the fuelling operator, bonding the aircraft and respecting fuelling safety zones is essential. 

Bonding

Bonding ensures electrical continuity between the aircraft and the refuelling vehicle, preventing any spark to appear when the ground operator connects the refuelling hose to the aircraft coupling.

It is mandatory to bond the aircraft to the refuelling vehicle/device before connecting the refuelling hose (fig.1). 

One of the aircraft grounding (earthing) points must be used to connect the bonding cable. Depending on the aircraft type, the grounding (earthing) points can be located:

• On the Nose Landing Gear (NLG) 
• On the Main Landing Gears (MLG)
• On the wings
• On the engine air inlet
• At the High Pressure (HP) connector.

Grounding (earthing) points are indicated by a placard to ease their identification (fig.2). The type of placard may differ depending on its location and the aircraft type.

A cable section of 20 mm² or more is recommended to ensure sufficient bonding. The total electrical resistance of the cable between the A/C and the fuel tanker must not be more than 10 ohms.

Grounding (earthing)

Grounding ensures electrical continuity between the aircraft and the earth. Static electricity resulting from the flight or the environmental conditions on ground (wind with dust, sand, etc…) is discharged to the earth through the tires.

Airbus doesn’t request the grounding (earthing) of the aircraft or of the refuelling vehicle during refuelling operations but some local authority regulations may request it.

As an industry standard, a 3-meter safety zone must be respected around the area located under the NACA vents, overpressure protectors and refuel coupling(s) (fig.3). These areas must be clear of any object or personnel. Their location can be found in the Refuel/Defuel Safety procedures of the AMM/AMP/MP. In addition, an escape corridor must be clear of obstacles so that the refuelling vehicle can leave the area in case of emergency.

Today’s short transit time used by some operators often requires refuelling operations while passengers are still -or already- on-board the aircraft.

It is essential for all actors to respect additional safety precautions and be prepared to initiate an emergency evacuation should it be required.

Depending on the ground servicing and catering operations, the area beneath the available exits must be clear to enable proper slide deployment in the case of an evacuation.

The flight crew must switch OFF the SEAT BELT signs and switch ON the NO SMOKING signs (if installed) and inform the cabin crew when the refuelling/defuelling operation starts and ends.

The CCOM SOP “Refuelling/defuelling – Refuelling/defuelling with passengers onboard” provides the procedure and precaution to apply.

The cabin aisle(s) and exits must be free of obstacles that could impair the evacuation path. Cabin curtains must be secured in the open position and the cabin lighting should be ON.

The cabin crew must inform passengers that a refuelling operation is on-going and that they must not fasten their seatbelt to ease evacuation in the case of an emergency. 

Each cabin crew should be prepared for an evacuation and at least one cabin crew member should be positioned at each door pair.