Knowing what kind of fuel your aircraft takes is basic pilot knowledge. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]
Key Takeaways:
Aircraft fueling mishaps, which can be disastrous or deadly, are frequently caused by miscommunication between pilots and FBO/line service personnel regarding the correct fuel type.
Pilots must take a proactive, safety-conscious approach by explicitly stating the precise fuel type and amount needed for their aircraft, rather than using vague requests like "top it off."
A rigorous verification process is essential before fueling, involving both pilots and technicians checking fuel placards, verbally confirming the fuel type, and using fuel forms if placards are unreadable.
It is unsafe to rely on visual inspection to detect mixed fuels (as appearance, color, and smell do not change) or assume that fuel nozzle sizes will prevent misfueling, as these are not foolproof safeguards.
Knowing what kind of fuel your aircraft takes is basic pilot knowledge. Knowing how to communicate that information to the FBO and/or line service technicians that refuel it should also be.
But according to Keith Clark, a Phillips 66 senior quality control and technical representative, correct aircraft fueling doesn’t always happen—and often with disastrous and deadly results.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
![Knowing what kind of fuel your aircraft takes is basic pilot knowledge. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/self-fuel-scaled.jpeg)
