Keywords
Citation
(1999), "New refuelling technology", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 71 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1999.12771fad.010
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
New refuelling technology
Keywords Contrec, Fuels, Measurement
A new electronic system that claims accurately to account for aircraft refuelling is replacing the systems widely used in aviation.
According to its manufacturer, Contrec, the system automatically records date, time, gallons and pounds delivered, average density and fuel temperature. Accurate volume measurement is said to be assured by sensors and software that compensate for ambient temperature variations. The system is also said to assist safety management by detecting water, air or other contaminants in the fuel and automatically shutting off supply when necessary.
"Even though fuel is one of the industry's biggest expenses, delivery has been entrusted to 1920s technology, mechanical meters and hand-written dockets", according to Contrec manager, Hans Noorlander. "Now, thanks to recent developments in metering, we can automate the whole delivery and accounting process from the pump back to the office. And perhaps for the first time in the history of commercial aviation, the fuel truck will give pilots a readout in mass as well as volume, to cross-check with the aircraft's onboard instruments".
Cab mounted electronics log each transaction by airline identity, tail number, flight number, and any other data specified by the customer. Transactions are continually downloaded by a radio modem into fuel management software and the last 50 transactions are logged in non-volatile memory as backup.
Contrec reports that its supply fuel systems are available for any scale of private or commercial aviation, that individual Contrec instruments will interface with virtually any existing meter and are ideal for retrofitting to fuel supply trucks. Fully automated Contrec fuelling systems account for the complete transfer of fuel from delivery to the fuel farm through to refuelling of each plane.
Details available from Contrec Systems Pty. Tel: +3 (0) 9822 8966; Fax: +3 (0) 9822 8329; E-mail: contrec@contrec.com.au, www.contrec.com.au