Approximately 100 Feet
Discharge Hose
Wind
LEGEND
CCR Nozzle
Wind
Ground Rod
Fire Extinguisher
Refueling OH-6, OH-58,
CH-47
AH-1, UH-60A, AH-64, and
Single Rotor Aircraft
UH-1 Single Rotor Aircraft
Pump
Refueling CH-47
Filter/Separator
or CH-54 Aircraft
Figure 7-1. Typical FARE layout.
PART C - QUALITY SURVEILLANCE
The quality and cleanliness of turbine fuel are vital to the safety of turbine-engine-powered aircraft. Turbine
engines have more stringent cleanliness requirements than do reciprocating engines. Because turbine
engines have high fuel consumption rates, contaminants accumulate in them rapidly. Turbine engine filters
cannot remove fine sediment, excess amounts of sediment, or water from the fuel. Separating the
contaminants from JP-5 and JP-8 is time-consuming and further complicated by their high viscosity and
specific gravity. Any unit or organization that has military-owned aviation fuel in its physical possession is
responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate quality surveillance program. Each person involved
in aircraft refueling is responsible for ensuring that the fuel pumped into an aircraft is clean, bright, on
specification, and does not contain any free water or sediment.
Quality surveillance testing and sampling are used to find common contamination hazards. The hazards
that may affect aircraft are sediment, water, microbiological growth, and commingled fuel. Since each aircraft
engine is designed to burn one particular type and grade of fuel, the consequences of using a mixture of
different fuels can range from small variations in engine performance to total loss of power and engine failure.
The consequences of commingling depend on the physical properties of the fuel.
Sampling and Testing. How often aviation fuels are sampled and tested depends on several factors. It
depends upon whether the fuel is taken from a fuel source, a system or refueler, or an aircraft tank. Fuel
supplies must be tested to confirm their identities (API gravity test) and detect water (Aqua-Glo test) and
particulate contaminant by color comparator ratings. Samples of fuel to be dispensed to aircraft should
contain no more than 10 fibers when a 1-quart sample is visually examined. The aviation fuel contamination
test kit is designed to provide a final check on aviation fuel just before the fueling of an aircraft. It includes the
API gravity test, the Aqua-Glo test, and the Millipore test (a test for particulate contaminants). Fuel in aircraft
tanks must be checked by the aircraft crew before flight operations begin. Taking a preflight sample is the
only way of ensuring that the fuel on board does not contain water or other visible contaminants. Any fuel that
fails a visual check should be segregated and held until laboratory test results are received. To check a fuel,
choose a clean sample bottle, draw a fresh sample, visually inspect it, and test it for debris, foreign matter, or
water. Laboratory testing ensures that the fuel's quality meets specifications, unknown products and existing
12-66
QM 5099
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