You order fuel, then go inside to file your flight plan. When you return, the fuel truck has pulled away. Your quick sump confirms color and no contamination. You’re good to go, right?

Not so fast. Did you know that straw-colored Jet A fuel won’t reveal whether it’s been mixed with avgas until more than half the tank is avgas? The good news is, what we know can save us. While pilots, operators, and even FBOs can’t control 100% of the supply chain, a little vigilance goes a long way in catching mistakes.

During this Sep. 8 must-see one-hour HAI@Work webinar, two fuel experts will pulled back the curtain on everything that can go wrong with aviation fuel, from its time at the refinery to the moment you start the engine. They also discussed additives and blends, how to check for cross contamination, and how to safely store fuel.

George Braly is co-founder of and head of engineering at General Aviation Modifications Inc. (GAMI), which was just awarded an STC for 100-octane unleaded avgas.

Mike Mattern is the quality assurance manager at Titan Aviation Fuels. A 31-year veteran of the US Marine Corps, he has served in his current position for 23 years and has seen just about every mistake that can be made in fuel handling. Mattern travels the country putting on fuel-safety seminars for Titan clients and others.