5 Dos and Don’ts: Keep the Cap on Aviation Fuel Safety Mistaken assumptions about your aircraft’s fuel can be deadly. By Zac Noble In general aviation, we see more than 800 incidents each year due to fuel contamination, fuel starvation (fuel is available but not in the selected tank), and fuel exhaustion (completely running out of fuel). Follow these tips to remain vigilant about fuel monitoring and refueling—from preflight planning to the end of a successful flight. 1 DON’T forget to visually check your fuel level before departing. Fuel gauges aren’t foolproof (see below). And always double-check your fuel caps prior to takeoff. 2 DO trust your fuel gauges—but not completely. Follow your gauges, but keep in mind they can fail, just like any other piece of equipment. Alternatively, when the levels displayed by your fuel gauge don’t conform to what you expect, based on your recent refueling and run time, that can indicate another issue with the aircraft, such as a fuel leak. Always listen to what your aircraft is trying to tell you. 3 DO know your fuel system. If your ship has more than one tank, be sure you know how to switch to a full one when your first tank is empty. The time to find out how to do that isn’t once you’re in the air. 4 DON’T assume the refueling station on your itinerary will be open. Just because you can find a station’s hours online doesn’t mean that information is up-to-date. If you’re leaving your normal area of operations, call ahead to see if your planned refueling point has fuel and will be open when you arrive. 5 DO engage with the fuel provider if necessary. Ask about filtering inspection intervals and don’t be afraid to perform your own “white bucket” test or sample the tanks’ fuel before putting it in your aircraft. Zac Noble is VAI’s director of flight operations and maintenance.
