OPERATIONS

Safe Aircraft Refuelling

Safe Aircraft
Refuelling
Safe refuelling operations require strict adherence to procedures
and careful application of the safety precautions, not only by the
refuelling operators but also flight crew, the cabin crew and the
other ground operators.
This article highlights the safety precautions that must be
considered when refuelling an aircraft. It also describes
supplementary tasks that are necessary if refuelling when
passengers are on-board.
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FIRE PREVENTION

The main threat during refuelling operation is the fire threat.

The general safety precautions for refuelling/defuelling are available in:
- the A220 AMP SERVICING – REPLENISHING AND DEPLETING - FUEL
REPLENISHING AND DEPLETING
- the A300/A310 AMM SERVICING - REPLENISHING OF FUEL TANKS
- the A320/A330/A340 AMM SERVICING - FUEL - FUEL SYSTEM - SERVICING
- General Refuel/Defuel Safety Procedures
- the A380 AMM FUEL - REFUEL/DEFUEL SYSTEM - SERVICING - General
Refuel/Defuel Safety Procedures
- the A350 MP FUEL - DISTRIBUTION - REFUEL/DEFUEL SYSTEM -
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES - General Refuel/Defuel Safety Procedures

In addition to the availability of the firefighting equipment and use of personal

protection by the fuelling operator, bonding the aircraft and respecting fuelling
safety zones is essential. It is mandatory
to bond the aircraft
Bonding and grounding during refuelling/defuelling
to the refuelling
Bonding vehicle/device before
Bonding ensures electrical continuity between the aircraft and the refuelling
connecting the
vehicle, preventing any spark to appear when the ground operator connects refuelling hose.
the refuelling hose to the aircraft coupling.
(fig.1)
It is mandatory to bond the aircraft to the refuelling vehicle/device before Mandatory bonding during
connecting the refuelling hose (fig.1). refuelling/defuelling operations

Refuelling hose Bonding cable Aircraft grounding

(earthing) point

One of the aircraft grounding (earthing) points must be used to connect the
bonding cable. Depending on the aircraft type, the grounding (earthing) points
can be located:

• On the Nose Landing Gear (NLG)

• On the Main Landing Gears (MLG)
• On the wings
• On the engine air inlet
• At the High Pressure (HP) connector.

Safety first #30 - 2/6

OPERATIONS
Safe Aircraft Refuelling

(fig.2)
Examples of placard used for grounding
point identification GROUND
HERE GROUND (EARTH) HERE
GROUND

Grounding (earthing) points are indicated by a placard to ease their identification

(fi g.2). The type of placard may differ depending on its location and the
Airbus aircraft type.
doesn’t request the
grounding (earthing) A cable section of 20 mm² or more is recommended to ensure sufficient
bonding. The total electrical resistance of the cable between the A/C and the
of the aircraft or of fuel tanker must not be more than 10 ohms.
the refuelling vehicle
Grounding (earthing)
during refuelling
operations but Grounding ensures electrical continuity between the aircraft and the earth.
some local authority Static electricity resulting from the flight or the environmental conditions on
ground (wind with dust, sand, etc...) is discharged to the earth through the tires.
regulations may
request it. Airbus doesn’t request the grounding (earthing) of the aircraft or of the refuelling
vehicle during refuelling operations but some local authority regulations may
request it.

Refuelling safety zones

As an industry standard, a 3-meter safety zone must be respected around
the area located under the NACA vents, overpressure protectors and refuel
coupling(s) (fig.3). These areas must be clear of any object or personnel. Their
location can be found in the Refuel/Defuel Safety procedures of the AMM/
AMP/MP. In addition, an escape corridor must be clear of obstacles so that
the refuelling vehicle can leave the area in case of emergency.

(fig.3) RH refuel coupling

Example of the fuelling safety zones and overpressure
on an A320 aircraft protector
LH refuel coupling (if installed)
and overpressure
protector

Escape
corridor

Refuelling
vehicle

LH fuel tank vent and RH fuel tank vent and

overpressure protector overpressure protector

Safety first #30 - 3/6

REFUELLING WITH PASSENGERS
ON-BOARD

Today’s short transit time used by some operators often requires refuelling
operations while passengers are still -or already- on-board the aircraft.
It is essential
It is essential for all actors to respect additional safety precautions and be prepared for all actors to
to initiate an emergency evacuation should it be required. respect additional
Keep ground areas clear for slide deployment safety precautions
and be prepared to
Depending on the ground servicing and catering operations, the area beneath
the available exits must be clear to enable proper slide deployment in the case initiate an emergency
of an evacuation. evacuation should it
be required.
Cabin and passengers handling
The flight crew must switch OFF the SEAT BELT signs and switch ON the NO
SMOKING signs (if installed) and inform the cabin crew when the refuelling/
defuelling operation starts and ends.

The CCOM SOP “Refuelling/defuelling - Refuelling/defuelling with passengers

onboard” provides the procedure and precaution to apply.

The cabin aisle(s) and exits must be free of obstacles that could impair the
evacuation path. Cabin curtains must be secured in the open position and the
cabin lighting should be ON.

The cabin crew must inform passengers that a refuelling operation is on-going
and that they must not fasten their seatbelt to ease evacuation in the case of
an emergency.

Each cabin crew should be prepared for an evacuation and at least one cabin
crew member should be positioned at each door pair.

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OPERATIONS
Safe Aircraft Refuelling

For all refuelling operations, the safety of ground personnel, flight crew,
CONTRIBUTORS:
cabin crew and any passengers onboard the aircraft is paramount. It
Didier GENDRE is why the prevention of any unsafe conditions requires the refuelling
Ground Operations Engineer vehicle or equipment to be bonded to the aircraft, preventing arcing
Airport Operations
or sparks. An exclusion area of 3 metres from the aircraft’s vent tanks,
Regis PERNET overpressure protection or refuel coupling and equipment should be
Flight Operations Support maintained during refuelling. The appropriate PPE should be worn by
Engineer the operator and fire fighting equipment available with a defined escape
Customer Support
corridor in the event of a fire.
Jean Paul VIEU The areas around the aircraft where escape slides deploy should be kept
Cabin Operations Engineer –
Cabin Safety Enhancement clear in case the flight crew or cabin crew must evacuate any passengers
Flight Operations Support or personnel on board the aircraft. During refuelling operations with
passengers on board, at least one cabin crew member should be
Ross WALKER positioned at each pair of aircraft doors. The cabin crew will also inform
Fuel System / Fuel Tank Safety
passengers when refuelling operations have commenced and instruct
Design Office
them to not fasten their seatbelt in case evacuation is required if there
With Thanks to Martin BENOIT is an emergency situation.
from the A220 Customer
Services and Ian GOODWIN
from the Product Safety
Department.

Safety first #30 - 5/6

Safety first, #30 March, 2020. Safety first is
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Publisher and Editor: Yannick Malinge,
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