Types of Fuel Checks

In order to avoid all possible incidents and accidents different types of fuel checks and tests exist. They are:

a) Visual Check (clear and bright checks)

b) Control Check

c) Water Detector Test

d) Relative Density Check

e) Conductivity Check

f) Laboratory Analysis

Samples of jet fuels sometimes have a hazy appearance which may cause complaints that water has been delivered with the fuel. It is necessary to draw samples from the aircraft tanks after fuelling. These are then visually examined for the presence of water or other contaminants.

Control check is to draw samples on fuel contamination from the filter (separator) or monitor drain connections on the delivery equipment used for fuelling the aircraft and from the bottom of the airport bulk storage tank in service at that time. The check results should be recorded, but the initial check samples themselves need also be retained if they reveal abnormalities. Should any indication of contamination be found, control checks should also be made on all other equipment that might be similarly affected. Each sample should have a label attached to it showing: Grade of product, Date and time drawn, Location of sampling point, Tank or vehicle number, Name of sampler.

Water Detector Test. Airline engineers occasionally test the contest of the tanks, with the water detector and obtain a positive reaction. This cause them to request defuelling of the aircraft in the belief that off-specification fuel has been delivered.

Relative Density Check. The density or relative density (specific gravity) of aviation fuels has to be determined frequently for a variety of purposes and in most cases the measured value needs to be converted or corrected to a standard temperature. Relative density is defined as the mass (weight) of a given volume of fuel divided by the mass of the identical volume of water under specified temperature conditions.

Exercise 15. Pick out Ukrainian equivalents to the following English words and word combinations.

incident скарга

accident зразок, проба

test каламутний вигляд

sample брати (пробу)

hazy appearance нещасний випадок

complaint аварія

to draw провідність

contaminant перевірка

bottom відхілення

abnormalities основа, дно

label записувати

relative density ярлик, етикетка

conductivity забруднювач

meter підозрювати

to record відносна густина

to suspect лічильник

circumstances обставини

Exercise 16. Discuss the main problems of the text “Types of Fuel Checks”.