You’re probably thinking: I’ve pumped gas for my car a million times. How hard could it be to refuel a plane?
It’s not hard, but it is different. Refueling your plane is something you’ll be glad to know how to do before you get to the pump – and realize you don’t know what to do at a self-serve station. So here is a basic walk-through of how to use the fuel pumps at an airport.
Get your plane close enough to the pumps (carefully).
You’ll be taxiing up to the pumps. Keep your eyes alert for trees, fences, etc. along the way.
Make sure magnetos and master switch are off.
Double, then triple check. Even if you know you did, check again. If these are on, you run the risk of a spark or accidental engine start, which could cause a fire.
Ground the plane.
Get out and unroll the grounding wire, and clip it to the plane. This is a safety measure (like the one above) to prevent static that could ignite the plane. Grounding wires are usually found in the exhaust stack.
If needed, get out the ladder.
On larger planes, you may need a ladder to reach the fuel tank. Find one and make sure it’s stable. Set up the ladder before you swipe your credit card so it doesn’t time out.
Pay with your credit card.
This is slightly different from paying at a gas station. You’ll swipe your card, enter your tail number, and choose the number of gallons (or dollars’ worth) you want. The pump will kick on when your card authorizes. (If it doesn’t, look for a lever which is found on older pumps.)
Pull out the hose.
First, double-check that you have the right hose in hand (you don’t want to use the wrong fuel type). Then pull it out farther than you think you’ll need so you have enough slack. Never try to pull the hose while you’re standing on the ladder – you might end up pulling the ladder down instead.
Remove the gas cap (and don’t set it down).
Keep the gas cap in your hand. Do not set it on the ground or on the plane because if you forget about it, you’ll be in serious trouble.
Lay out a mat or towel if you have one.
Tuck a rubber mat between the plane and the hose. This will help prevent scratches from the hose. Any piece of fabric will work, even a windshield cleaner.
Fill the tank slowly and carefully.
Airport fuel pumps don’t have the auto shut-off feature that road vehicle gas stations have. So have an estimate of how much gas you’ll need, start fast and then taper off so you don’t overflow the tank.
Re-cap the tank.
Do it. Do it now! Don’t run the risk of forgetting and taking off with an uncapped fuel tank.
Put the hose back.
Come down from the ladder, find the hose reel and push the retract button. The reel may spin faster than you’d expect, so use your foot to guide the hose, and stop it before it goes out of control.
Retract the grounding wire.
Usually, you’ll need to pull the wire out slightly, then the wire will automatically rewind.
Put the ladder and mat (or towel) back.
Return the ladder and/or rubber mat to wherever you found it. Clean up any gas you’ve spilled. You can also use this opportunity to sump the fuel tanks and ensure your fuel is clean.
Don’t rush – double check your plane and the area.
Even if other planes are lining up, take a moment to walk around your plane and make sure everything looks right. Make sure you’ve put everything away and there are no objects in your path. And triple-check that the gas cap is on!
The self-fueling option is gaining more popularity because it’s cheaper and more convenient. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be glad you did!