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Ask <i>FLYING</i>: Do I Need To Learn How To Refuel My Airplane?

If you've never refueled an aircraft before, here are nine tips to help you do so safely during your next pit stop.

A refueler at work. [Courtesy: Meg Godlewski]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Self-refueling aircraft is an essential skill for pilots, often overlooked when line service is typically available, and is part of aviation training syllabi.
  • The process requires strict adherence to safety protocols, including proper grounding to prevent static discharge, verifying the correct fuel type, and careful handling of equipment.
  • Key steps include estimating fuel requirements, avoiding damage or contamination, and performing post-refueling checks like sumping for impurities.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Question: I have been renting aircraft for years from an FBO that has recently become very busy. I was surprised when the FBO told me that I would have to refuel the airplane I had rented because it had just come back from a flight. They handed me a company credit card so it wasn’t the cost that bothered me—it’s that I have been flying for years but never have refueled an airplane before. Is this something new and something I should know how to do?

Answer:

Meg Godlewski

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.

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