Biological contamination in aircraft fuels

Citation

(2002), "Biological contamination in aircraft fuels", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 74 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2002.12774cad.013

Biological contamination in aircraft fuels

Keywords: Aircraft, Fuel, Contamination

The UK-based company, Conidia Bioscience recently launched a new diagnostic kit for detecting contamination in aviation fuel.

It is said to be the fastest detection kit of its kind, in Conidia's opinion it will have a major impact on operational status and readiness of military aircraft. It reportedly allows huge savings by minimising down time for already budget-streched civil airlines.

Micro-organisms grow in certain fuels using alkanes as a foodstuff or. in some cases, utilising the additives put into the fuel. Aviation fuel is particularly susceptible to micro-organism contamination. It is not uncommon to have micro-organisms in fuel, but if left unchecked and untreated they can cause serious damage to the fuel tank – a particularly worrying scenario at 30,000 feet.

The most serious micro-organism in aircraft is the fungus Hormoconis resinae. It is more likely to cause blockage problems because it produces large amounts of biomass. It is by far the most common cause of microbial corrosion in fuel tanks. High levels of H.resinae indicate a potentially very serious problem,

British scientist have devised a kit that is said to outstrip all other kits in that it can reportedly detect H. resinae contamination within 10 minutes. It is claimed that the FUELSTAT resinae kit tells aircraft engineers in a matter of minutes, not days, the extent of the contamination. It indicates at what point the contamination poses a serious danger and becomes a costly liability.

The kit is considered an easy-to-use device. It is designed for use at all stages and levels of the servicing process.

Conidia Bioscience Ltd are. confident their kit will pass all tests for accuracy, quality and convenience.

Details available from: CABI Bioscience. Tel: +44 1491 829014; Fax. +44 1491 829100; E-mail: z.armitage@cabi.org