Aircraft Fuels and Systems Basics
Learn the basics of aircraft fuels and systems
Two types of aircraft fuel exist: avgas (aviation gas) and jet fuel. Avgas has a higher octane rating than car gas and it contains lead, while jet fuel (referred to either as Jet A or Jet B) consists mainly of kerosene. While jet engines use jet fuel and piston engine aircraft, like a Piper Apache, use avgas, many more than two types of aircraft fuel systems exist.Airplane fuel systems work in a couple of different ways: some planes have fuel pumps, some have a gravity-fed aircraft fuel management systems, while others have a combination of these or something different entirely. The purpose of this guide isn't to explain all the different airplane fuel systems in detail; rather, this guide will point you in the right direction so you can learn more about aircraft fuels and systems specific to your aircraft.
To learn about your aircraft fuel system, learn about the three basic components:
1. Airplane fuel type;
2. Aircraft fuel management system; and
3. Aviation fuel pumps
Consider the airplane fuel your aircraft uses
An aircraft that uses avgas will always have a different aircraft fueling system than one that uses jet fuel. While the differences in the fueling systems won't stop there, learning aircraft fuels and systems basics should start with some knowledge about the type of airplane fuel required.
Try: You can learn more about the types of airplane fuel at the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission. For more specific information about the types of jet fuel and additives, visit the jet fuel page on the Computer Support Group site.
Develop or learn about your aircraft fuel management system
An aircraft fuel management system helps your pilots, aircraft fuel line and fuel department manage fuel. Fuel management systems range from the specific to the comprehensive, and if your company doesn't have an aircraft fuel management system in place, then take the time to look at an aircraft fuel system designed for an operation of similar size.
Try: SPG Media has a gallery of different aircraft fuel management systems. To get an idea of how specific fuel management systems can get, look at the explanation from m·u·t of an optical fuel measurement system.
Understand how an aircraft fuel pump works
Knowing how your aircraft fuel pumps work doesn't mean you need to understand every technical detail. But knowing the basic principles behind jet fuel pumps or other aircraft fuel pumps helps you master aircraft fuels and systems basics, so take some time to study your aircraft's fuel pump.
Try: Look at a patent and diagram for a jet fuel pump on PatentStorm. Fluid Metering has an illustrated explanation of how their aircraft fuel pumps operate.
- Although this guide addresses the technical aspects of airplane fueling and aircraft fueling equipment, when it comes to aircraft fuel management systems remember that fuel management simply means using fuel intelligently and efficiently. Remind your aircraft fuel line about the least technical ways to manage fuel flow, like not overfilling tanks and other commonsense ways to conserve whatever type or aircraft fuel your business uses.
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