Self-Service

It hasn’t been that long ago that self-serve aircraft fueling didn’t exist. Many currently involved in the industry got their start as relatively unskilled labor running fixed pumps, driving tanker trucks and climbing ladders to pump aviation fuel. Simple economics dictated the end of full-service fuel dispensing at many airports, replaced with self-serve facilities. The good news with self-fueling is it’s usually cheaper than full-service. But it doesn’t come without a price.

Key Takeaways:

• Avgas is inherently dangerous due to its highly flammable, heavier-than-air vapors; "empty" tanks are full of explosive vapor, which is displaced into oxygen-rich air during fueling, requiring extreme caution.
• To prevent ignition, always bond the aircraft to the fueling station to eliminate static electricity, and ensure no open flames, sparks, or running engines are within 50 feet of the fueling operation.
• Practice careful fueling by working slowly to avoid spills, allowing room for fuel expansion in tanks, and critically, properly securing fuel caps and checking their condition after refueling to prevent accidents.

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