Aviation fuel

Aviation fuel is a specialized type of petroleum-based fuel used to power aircraft. It is

generally of a higher quality than fuels used in less critical applications such as heating or
road transport, and often contains additives to reduce the risk of icing or explosion due to
high temperatures, amongst other properties.
Most aviation fuels available for aircraft are kinds of petroleum spirit used in engines
with spark plugs i.e. piston engines and Wankel rotaries or fuel for jet turbine engines
which is also used in diesel aircraft engines. Alcohol, alcohol mixtures and other
alternative fuels may be used experimentally but are not generally available.
Avgas is sold in much lower volumes, but to many more individual aircraft, whereas Jet
fuel is sold in high volumes to large aircraft operated typically by airlines, military and
large corporate aircraft.
Avgas
Avgas is a high-octane fuel used for aircraft and racing cars. The term "Avgas" is a
portmanteau for aviation gasoline, as distinguished from "mogas" (motor gasoline),
which is the everyday petroleum spirit used in cars. Avgas is typically used in aircraft that
use reciprocating or wankel engines.
Jet fuel
Jet fuel is a clear to straw colored fuel, based on either an unleaded paraffin oil ("Jet A1"), or a naphtha-kerosene blend ("Jet B"). It is similar to diesel fuel, and can be used in
either compression ignition engines or turbine engines.
In use
Aviation fuel is often dispensed from a tanker or bowser which is driven up to parked
aeroplanes and helicopters. Some airports have pumps similar to filling stations that
aircraft must taxi up to. Some airports also have permanent piping to parking areas for
large aircraft.
Regardless of the method, aviation fuel is transferred to an aircraft via one of two
methods: "overwing" and "underwing". Overwing fuelling is used on smaller planes,
helicopters, and all piston-engine aircraft. Overwing fuelling is similar to car fuelling
— one or more fuel ports are opened and fuel is pumped in with a conventional
pump. Underwing fuelling, also called "single-point", is used on larger aircraft and for jet
fuel exclusively. For single-point fuelling, a high-pressure hose is attached and fuel is
pumped in at up to 50 PSI. Since there is only one attachment point, fuel distribution
between tanks is either automated or it is controlled from a control panel at the fuelling
point or in the cockpit. As well, a dead man's switch is used to control fuel flow.
Because of the danger of confusing the fuel types, a number of precautions are taken to
distinguish between AvGas and Jet Fuel beyond clearly marking all containers, vehicles,
and piping. AvGas is treated with either a red, green, or blue dye, and is dispensed from
nozzles with a diameter of 40 millimetres (49 millimetres in the USA). The aperture on
fuel tanks of piston-engined aircraft cannot be greater than 60 millimetres in diameter. Jet
Fuel is clear to straw in colour, and is dispensed from a special nozzle called a "J spout"
that has a rectangular opening larger than 60 millimetres in diameter so as not to fit into

AvGas ports. However, some jet and turbine aircraft, such as some models of the Astar
helicopter, have a fuelling port too small for the J spout and thus require a smaller nozzle
to be installed in order to be refuelled efficiently.
Energy content
The net energy content for aviation fuels depends on their composition. Some typical
values are: [Air BP.
[http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/aviation/air_bp/STAGING/local_assets/downloads_pdfs/a/air_b
p_products_handbook_04004_1.pdf BP Products handbook] Retrieved 2008-09-13]
*BP Avgas 80, 44.65 MJ/kg, density at 15 C is 690 kg/m3
*Kerosene type BP Jet A-1, 43.15 MJ/kg, density at 15 C is 804 kg/m3
*Kerosene type BP Jet TS-1, (for lower temperatures) 43.2 MJ/kg, density at 15 C is 787
kg/m3
Chemical composition
Aviation fuels consist of blends of over a thousand chemicals, primarily Hydrocarbons
(paraffins, olefins, naphthenes, and aromatics) as well as additives such as antioxidants
and metal deactivators, and impurities. Principal components include n-octane and
isooctane. Like other fuels, blends of Aviation fuel used in piston engined aircraft are
often described by their Octane rating.
Safety precautions
Any fuelling operation can be very dangerous, and aviation fuelling has a number of
unique characteristics which must be accommodated. As an aircraft flies through the air,
it can accumulate a charge of static electricity. If this is not dissipated before fuelling, an
electric arc can occur which may ignite fuel vapours. To prevent this, aircraft are
electrically bonded to the fuelling apparatus before fuelling begins, and are not
disconnected until fuelling is complete. Some regions require that the aircraft and/or fuel
truck be grounded as well. Aviation fuel can cause severe environmental damage, and all
fuelling vehicles must carry equipment to control fuel spills. In addition, fire
extinguishers must be present at any fuelling operation, and airport firefighting forces are
specially trained and equipped to handle aviation fuel fires and spills. Aviation fuel must
be checked daily and before every flight for contaminants such as water or dirt.
Many airlines now require that safety belts be left unfastened should passengers be
aboard when refuelling happens.