Airport fuel
systems shall be designed and constructed in accordance with NFPA 407.
Aircraft-fueling vehicles shall comply with this section and shall be designed and constructed in accordance with NFPA 407.
Aircraft-fueling vehicles shall be equipped and maintained with an
approved transfer apparatus.
Where such transfer apparatus is operated by an individual unit of the internal-combustion-motor type, such power unit shall be located as remotely as practicable from pumps, piping, meters, air eliminators, water separators, hose reels and similar equipment, and shall be housed in a separate compartment from any of the aforementioned items. The fuel
tank in connection therewith shall be suitably designed and installed, and the maximum fuel capacity shall not exceed 5 gallons (19 L) where the
tank is installed on the engine. The exhaust pipe, muffler and tail pipe shall be shielded.
Where operated by gears or chains, the gears, chains, shafts, bearings, housing and all parts thereof shall be of an
approved design and shall be installed and maintained in an
approved manner.
Flexible connections for the purpose of eliminating vibration are allowed if the material used therein is designed, installed and maintained in an
approved manner, provided that such connections do not exceed 24 inches (610 mm) in length.
Pumps of a positive-displacement type shall be provided with a bypass relief valve set at a pressure of not more than 35 percent in excess of the normal working pressure of such unit. Such units shall be equipped and maintained with a pressure gauge on the discharge side of the pump.
Hoses shall be designed for the transferring of hydrocarbon
liquids and shall not be any longer than necessary to provide efficient fuel transfer operations. Hoses shall be equipped with an
approved shutoff nozzle. Fuel-transfer nozzles shall be
self-closing and designed to be actuated by hand pressure only. Notches and other devices shall not be used for holding a nozzle valve handle in the open position. Nozzles shall be equipped with a bonding cable complete with proper attachment for aircraft to be serviced.
Electric wiring, switches, lights and other sources of ignition, where located in a compartment housing piping, pumps, air eliminators, water separators, hose reels or similar equipment, shall be enclosed in a vapor-tight housing. Electrical motors located in such a compartment shall be of a type
approved for
use as specified in NFPA 70.
Compartments housing piping, pumps, air eliminators, water separators, hose reels and similar equipment shall be adequately ventilated at floor level or within the floor itself.
Ladders, hose reels and similar accessory equipment shall be of an approved type and constructed substantially as follows:
- Ladders constructed of noncombustible material are allowed to be used with or attached to aircraft-fueling vehicles, provided that the manner of attachment or use of such ladders is approved and does not constitute an additional fire or accident hazard in the operation of such fueling vehicles.
- Hose reels used in connection with fueling vehicles shall be constructed of noncombustible materials and shall be provided with a packing gland or other device that will preclude fuel leakage between reels and fuel manifolds.
Transfer apparatus shall be metallically interconnected with
tanks, chassis, axles and springs of aircraft-fueling vehicles.
Aircraft-fueling vehicles shall be provided and maintained with a substantial heavy-duty electrical cable of sufficient length to be bonded to the aircraft to be serviced. Such cable shall be metallically connected to the transfer apparatus or chassis of the aircraft-fueling vehicle on one end and shall be provided with a suitable metal clamp on the other end, to be fixed to the aircraft.
The bonding cable shall be bare or have a transparent protective sleeve and be stored on a reel or in a compartment provided for no other purpose. It shall be carried in such a manner that it will not be subjected to sharp kinks or accidental breakage under conditions of general
use.
Smoking in aircraft-fueling vehicles is prohibited. Signs to this effect shall be conspicuously posted in the driver's compartment of all fueling vehicles.
Smoking equipment such as cigarette lighters and ash trays shall not be provided in aircraft-fueling vehicles.
The operation, maintenance and
use of aircraft-fueling vehicles shall be in accordance with Sections
2006.4.1 through
2006.4.4 and other applicable provisions of this chapter.
Aircraft-fueling vehicles and all related equipment shall be properly maintained and kept in good repair. Accumulations of oil, grease, fuel and other flammable or combustible materials is prohibited. Maintenance and servicing of such equipment shall be accomplished in
approved areas.
Tanks, pipes, hoses, valves and other fuel delivery equipment shall be maintained leak free at all times.
Aircraft-fueling vehicles and related equipment that are in violation of
Section 2006.4.1 or
2006.4.2 shall be immediately defueled and removed from service and shall not be returned to service until proper repairs have been made.
Aircraft-fueling vehicles that are operated by a person, firm or corporation other than the permittee or the permittee's authorized employee shall be provided with a legible sign visible from outside the vehicle showing the name of the person, firm or corporation operating such unit.
Aircraft-fueling and defueling operations shall be in accordance with Sections
2006.5.1 through
2006.5.5.
Aircraft-fueling vehicles shall not be located, parked or permitted to stand in a position where such unit would obstruct egress from an aircraft should a fire occur during fuel-transfer operations. Aircraft-fueling vehicles shall not be located, parked or permitted to stand under any portion of an aircraft.
Exception: Aircraft-fueling vehicles shall be allowed to be located under aircraft wings during underwing fueling of turbine-engine powered aircraft.
A clear path shall be maintained for aircraft-fueling vehicles to provide for prompt and timely egress from the fueling area.
A clear space of not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) shall be maintained between aircraft fuel-
system vent openings and any part or portion of an aircraft-fueling vehicle.
Prior to leaving the cab, the aircraft-fueling vehicle operator shall ensure that the parking brake has been set. Not less than two chock blocks not less than 5 inches by 5 inches by 12 inches (127 mm by 127 mm by 305 mm) in size and dished to fit the contour of the tires shall be utilized and positioned in such a manner as to preclude movement of the vehicle in any direction.
Aircraft-fueling vehicles shall be electrically bonded to the aircraft being fueled or defueled. Bonding connections shall be made prior to making fueling connections and shall not be disconnected until the fuel-transfer operations are completed and the fueling connections have been removed.
Where a hydrant service vehicle or cart is used for fueling, the hydrant coupler shall be connected to the hydrant system prior to bonding the fueling equipment to the aircraft.
In addition to the bonding cable required by
Section 2006.5.2, conductive hose shall be used for all fueling operations.
Transfer nozzles shall be equipped with approved bonding conductors that shall be clipped or otherwise positively engaged with the bonding attachment provided on the aircraft adjacent to the fuel tank cap prior to removal of the cap.
Exception: In the case of overwing fueling where an appropriate bonding attachment adjacent to the fuel fill port has not been provided on the aircraft, the fueling operator shall touch the fuel tank cap with the nozzle spout prior to removal of the cap. The nozzle shall be kept in contact with the fill port until fueling is completed.
Where required, metal funnels are allowed to be used during fueling operations. Direct contact between the fueling receptacle, the funnel and the fueling nozzle shall be maintained during the fueling operation.
Aircraft-fueling vehicles shall be attended and operated only by persons instructed in methods of proper
use and operation and who are qualified to
use such fueling vehicles in accordance with minimum safety requirements.
Fuel-servicing personnel shall know and understand the hazards associated with each type of fuel dispensed by the
airport fueling-
system operator.
Employees of fuel
agents who fuel aircraft, accept fuel shipments or otherwise handle fuel shall receive
approved fire safety training.
Fuel-servicing personnel shall receive
approved training in the operation of fire-extinguishing equipment.
The
airport fueling-
system operator shall maintain records of all training administered to its employees.
During fuel-transfer operations, a qualified person shall be in control of each transfer nozzle and another qualified person shall be in immediate control of the fuel-pumping equipment to shut off or otherwise control the flow of fuel from the time fueling operations are begun until they are completed.
Exceptions:
- For underwing refueling, the person stationed at the point of fuel intake is not required.
- For overwing refueling, the person stationed at the fuel pumping equipment shall not be required where the person at the fuel dispensing device is within 75 feet (22 800 mm) of the emergency shutoff device; is not on the wing of the aircraft and has a clear and unencumbered path to the fuel pumping equipment; and the fuel dispensing line does not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm) in length.
The fueling operator shall monitor the panel of the fueling equipment and the aircraft control panel during pressure fueling or shall monitor the fill port during overwing fueling.
Fuel flow-control valves shall be operable only by the direct hand pressure of the operator. Removal of the operator's hand pressure shall cause an immediate cessation of the flow of fuel.
Emergency fuel shutoff controls and procedures shall comply with Sections
2006.6.1 through
2006.6.4.
Emergency fuel shutoff controls shall be provided with
ready access at all times when the fueling
system is being operated.
The fueling-
system operator shall establish a procedure by which the fire department will be notified in the event of an activation of an emergency fuel shutoff control.
Prior to reestablishment of normal fuel flow, the cause of fuel shutoff conditions shall be determined and corrected.
Emergency fuel shutoff devices shall be operationally tested at intervals not exceeding three months. The fueling-
system operator shall maintain testing records.
Before an aircraft-fueling vehicle is moved, fuel transfer hoses shall be properly placed on the
approved reel or in the compartment provided, or stored on the top decking of the fueling vehicle if proper height rail is provided for security and protection of such equipment. Fuel-transfer hose shall not be looped or draped over any part of the fueling vehicle, except as herein provided. Fuel-transfer hose shall not be dragged when such fueling vehicle is moved from one fueling position to another.
Aircraft-fueling vehicles shall be loaded only at an approved loading rack. Such loading racks shall be in accordance with Section 5706.5.1.12.
Exceptions:
- Aircraft-refueling units are allowed to be loaded from the fuel tanks of an aircraft during defueling operations.
- Fuel transfer between tank vehicles is allowed to be performed in accordance with Section 5706.6 where the operation is not less than 200 feet (60 960 mm) from an aircraft.
The fuel cargo of such units shall be unloaded only by approved transfer apparatus into the fuel tanks of aircraft, underground storage tanks or approved gravity storage tanks.
Passenger traffic is allowed during the time fuel transfer operations are in progress, provided that the following provisions are strictly enforced by the owner of the aircraft or the owner's authorized employee:
Smoking and producing an open flame in the cabin of the aircraft or the outside thereof within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of such aircraft shall be prohibited.
A qualified employee of the aircraft owner shall be responsible for seeing that the passengers are not allowed to smoke when remaining aboard the aircraft or while going across the ramp from the gate to such aircraft, or vice versa.
- Passengers shall not be permitted to linger about the plane, but shall proceed directly between the loading gate and the aircraft.
- Passenger loading stands or walkways shall be left in loading position until all fuel transfer operations are completed.
- Fuel transfer operations shall not be performed on the main exit side of any aircraft containing passengers except when the owner of such aircraft or a capable and qualified employee of such owner remains inside the aircraft to direct and assist the escape of such passengers through regular and emergency exits in the event fire should occur during fuel transfer operations.
Smoking and producing open flames within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of a point where fuel is being transferred shall be prohibited. Electrical and motor-driven devices shall not be connected to or disconnected from an aircraft at any time fueling operations are in progress on such aircraft.
Aircraft fuel-servicing equipment shall be maintained and kept free from leaks. Fuel-servicing equipment that malfunctions or leaks shall not be continued in service.
Fuel nozzles shall be carried utilizing appropriate handles. Dragging fuel nozzles along the ground shall be prohibited.
