49
votes
Why are fuel tanks in the wings filled first, and why are they used last?
Having all the payload of a plane concentrated at the fuselage creates a large bending load on the wings in order to support that weight. Storing fuel in the wings allows some of that weight to be ...
- 71.8k
33
votes
Accepted
How does jet fuel not spill out upon disconnecting from the wing's intake?
The system is based on two elements:
The underwing coupling is closed by a spring-loaded lid which can be pushed up to open the tank fuel line.
The refueling nozzle has a poppet valve which ...
- 71k
30
votes
Accepted
What does the term "tanker" mean when used in regards to a passenger airliner?
Since the 1960's and 1970's when political hijackings were a problem, airplanes started to only carry the fuel required for the flight. This means a typical fuel load will be something on the order ...
- 35.2k
28
votes
Accepted
How long does it take to refuel a big jumbo jet?
It depends on a number of factors like:
the aircraft size and variant
the range required
the aircraft load
equipment available
Ground crew proficiency
...among others things.
This figure from the ...
- 100k
24
votes
Where does Air Force One refuel?
I can't confirm whether either VC-25 has refueled in flight while acting as AF1 but the aircraft is so equipped for the job.
I do know refueling on the ground depends on where the jet is and the ...
- 72.8k
15
votes
What does the term "tanker" mean when used in regards to a passenger airliner?
Tankering fuel means that an aircraft carries not only the fuel quantity required for the flight to the destination, but also the fuel, or a part of it, required for the next leg of the trip. The ...
- 71k
15
votes
Accepted
What is the official term for a gas / petrol station for planes?
At airport with a standalone self-serve facility, it's a Self Serve Fuel(ing) Station. If it's a business selling fuel in addition to other services, that is a Fixed Base Operator, or FBO.
- 126k
14
votes
Accepted
What is the work routine of a boomer operator in a refueling aircraft?
The boom operator (or boomer) can freely move around the aircraft. The boom operator position is usually accessible from the cargo hold and the operator can use the opening to move from his/her ...
- 100k
14
votes
How long does it take to refuel a big jumbo jet?
It depends on how many equipment are being used to refuel and how much fuel an aircraft needs. But in general there are some ratings which manufacturers issue for handling and ground time.
For ...
- 356
13
votes
Accepted
Why do pilots sample the fuel before a flight?
On the first flight of the day, after every refueling, and if you have flown through precipitation or the plane is left in the rain, you check the fuel for water and to make sure you have the right ...
- 7,371
12
votes
Accepted
Is it normal practice to refuel commerical planes whilst boarding is taking place?
Refueling with passengers onboard is quite normal and is done according to the recommendations of regulatory bodies/manufacturers and operators. Refueling with some fuel types are not permitted, while ...
- 100k
12
votes
How do aircraft refueling in-air deal with wake turbulence?
Like to see the fleet and crews talking here. I am a US Navy A7E pilot who flew in the Med aboard the USS Nimitz in the mid-1980's. I served as tanker pilot, and had my share of plugging behind an A6 ...
- 4,288
12
votes
Why are fuel tanks in the wings filled first, and why are they used last?
A minor point - keeping less of the flammable fuel in the body has a safety benefit.
Using up what's in the body first helps keep it further away from the crew and passengers.
In a crash you'd ...
- 1,097
12
votes
Accepted
Why ground a plane while fueling?
On cars I think it's because static charges don't build up as much but theoretically it's still possible for a spark to occur when the nozzle touches the tank inlet and provides a ground path.
On ...
- 126k
12
votes
What is the official term for a gas / petrol station for planes?
On a small GA airfield we just refer to them as "The pumps". As in my typical radio conversation goes like this
[Airfield] [service], G-ABCD request taxi to pumps.
- 31.8k
10
votes
How is it safe for helicopters and Ospreys to refuel in mid-air?
When fully extended the probe does extend past the rotor of the HH-60G; however, there is a potential for the probe not to extend. And in that case, the probe is well inside the rotor disc. Still, ...
- 101
10
votes
Why are fuel tanks in the wings filled first, and why are they used last?
Probably the main reason why fuel is put into the main wing tanks first is because on some airliners (if not most) the engines are fed directly from the wing tanks. Some airliners have to pump the ...
- 8,532
9
votes
Why are fuel tanks in the wings filled first, and why are they used last?
The simplest explanation is that the wings are designed to be the load bearing structure in the air and on the ground. So, you want the most weight to be in/on the wings.
In other words, you want to ...
- 447
9
votes
Accepted
Why is Iceland an efficient connection point between London and Boston/NYC?
One of the benefits of having a stop halfway is that the aircraft can refuel.
It therefor doesn't have to carry the fuel for the second half of the flight during the first half, which saves fuel.
...
- 82.8k
9
votes
Accepted
Why is there always a fire truck present before refuelling?
As far as I know it is not mandated, but ICAO (for which many aviation authorities derive their regulations) states in Annex 14 Section 9.6 Ground servicing of aircraft:
9.6.1 Fire extinguishing ...
- 31.8k
8
votes
Accepted
Can an airliner be refueled while the APU is running?
Refueling an airliner with APU running is a perfectly normal procedure and it is done daily all around the world. The APU is located at the tail cone partially to reduce the risk of fire spreading to ...
- 2,164
8
votes
Accepted
Which airports have the highest fuel upload?
The best data I could find is in this paper about biofuels, which has data for US airports in 2014. Based on my reading of the chart on page 14 and some conversion:
...
- 71.8k
8
votes
How much does a refueling stop for an Avro RJ85 cost in Bolivia/Colombia?
It's hard to give an exact figure as their are a number of considerations. If we assume that the re-fueling stop is at El Dorado, and the airplane was a BA146 (RJ85 is a variant) then approximate ...
- 52.9k
8
votes
Accepted
How do you know which fuel an aircraft uses?
The actual fuel type limitations will be listed in at least two places: the aircraft type certification data sheet (TCDS), and the limitations section of the aircraft Flight Manual, Operating Handbook,...
- 16.5k
8
votes
Accepted
Do large aircraft accumulate water in their tanks?
AFAIK all aircrafts accumulate water in their tanks. Since you ask for large aircraft acccording to wikipeadia:
FAA definition of large aircraft
The US Federal Aviation Administration defines a ...
8
votes
Accepted
What was this vehicle doing?
This looks like an Aircraft Fuel Servicing Cart, which transfers fuel from an underground network to the aircraft. There are two types of vehicles that transfer fuel at larger airports with these fuel ...
- 54.3k
8
votes
Accepted
How do rental prices that include fuel work if you refuel?
Every FBO that rents aircraft wet should have a published policy on this, possibly even in the rental agreement you signed.
In every case I’ve seen or heard of, you just submit the receipt for any ...
- 27.6k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible