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Aviation History
1982
1982 - 2402.PDF
BUSINESS AVIATION Gama introduces safe-fuelling campaign The US General Aviation Manufacturers' Association (Gama) has taken steps to try to reduce the incidence of aircraft misfuelling acci dents. It has developed a system of colour-coded trans fers to show the correct type of fuel to be used. Misfuelling has led to air craft coming to grief, or nearly so, on very many occasions. A recent incident in the UK provides an example. As a Piper Navajo climbs away from the airport, the cylinder head temper ature is seen to be rising more rapidly than usual. The rate of climb is also poor. With a full-rich mixture and engine cowl gills open, cylinder head and oil temper atures continue to rise. There is a small drop in oil pres sure. The pilot decides to divert to a nearby aerodrome where an emergency landing is suc cessful, 15-20 minutes after take-off. Both cylinder head and oil temperatures are "in the red". Investigation reveals that 113gal of avtur have been loaded instead of avgas; total fuel capacity is 192gal. The aircraft is defuelled, the system purged, and ground runs are carried out. Subse quent engine inspection reveals damage to the left engine. The Gama project is a nationwide campaign in which a multitude of aviation interests are working to gether. "With the further co operation of pilots, operators, and fuel companies, we can help to protect every aircraft from the unnecessary danger of misfuelling," says presi dent Ed Stimpson. The colour-coded transfers are designed to be placed next to fuel filler caps. A new advisory notice from the Federal Aviation Administra tion describes their use in relation to other mandatory fuel markings on US-certifi cated aircraft. International-standard col our coding on the 3in X 5in transfers differentiates jet fuel from gasoline. Transfers with a black border and the words "JET FUEL ONLY" identify aircraft designed for turbine fuel. All those which require gasoline should carry a red-bordered transfer with the words 'AVGAS ONLY". Additional markings identify which Avgas grades are acceptable for particular piston aircraft. These are: 80 octane—legend and illus trated nozzle in red] 100 octane—green; and 100LL— blue legend and illustration (see reproductions on this page). Exposure-tested The polyester-film trans fers have been tested for weather and sun exposure, and are said to be easy to apply to clean wing surfaces in temperatures above 35° F. Fuel warnings will be stan dard on most new production aircraft in the future, says Gama. An entire system of pre ventative designs is being evolved. Under development is colour coding and marking of fuel-pump nozzles to match the aircraft markings. A system of different nozzle spout sizes and fuel-port restrictors is also said to be under development. Transfers are available from Gama at $0-75 each, $1-50 a pair. Cheques and money orders should go to Gama Fuel Decals, 1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 517, Washington DC, 20036; telephone (202) 296- 6540. State type of decal— jet fuel only, avgas 100 and 100LL, or avgas 80, 100, and lOOLL—and number re quired. "Several times a year we warn of this problem. Each time there is little new to add to the subject," says the CAA in its most recent general-aviation safety-infor mation leaflet. The authority draws attention to its aero nautical information circular (19/1981) devoted to fuel loading. The CAA is particularly conscious of two factors which "can cause confusion and contribute significantly to the risk of error". First, some aircraft types have variants fitted with either piston or turbine engines. Second, there is a tendency for some manufacturers to paint the word "Turbo" in prominent letters on piston- engined aircraft. "It is recommended that any such markings which might cause confusion are removed." As the CAA stresses, no system of marking is fool proof: "It is strict adherence to correct procedures by all persons involved in refuelling which must provide the primary safeguard." Short final . . . AiResearch Aviation is offer ing Gulfstream II operators the opportunity to have in terior and avionics modifica tions installed at the same time as the G-IIB modifica tion. The aircraft would spend up to two weeks at AiResearch's Long Beach facility, before going to Savannah for the new wing. During the six to eight weeks required for the wing change, AiResearch would continue with interior modi fications, and prepare the aircraft for the new avionics. Gama's new decals are black for jet fuel and red for avgas. Avgas grades are blue or green AVGAS ONLY GRADE 80 GRADE 1O0LL GRADE lOO Gapan awards 1168 Pilots in the Falklands cam paign figure prominently in the awards of the UK Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navi gators, to be presented by Marshal of the RAF Sir Michael Beetham next week. The Prince Philip Helicop ter Rescue Award goes to Lt Cdr Hugh Clark, who com manded &25 Squadron during the rescue operations at Bluff Cove. The Cumbernatch Trophy for air safety goes to British Airways' VC10 Flight for its safety record during 17 years. Capt Eric Moody receives the Hugh Gordon Burge Memorial Award for landing a 747 at Jakarta following total loss of power caused by volcanic dust. The Award of Merit goes to Jack Nicholl, who retired this year as Principal of Ox ford Air Training School. Paul Tomlinson receives the Sir Alan Cobham Award as the most meritorious civil student pilot. The Pike Trophy for con tribution to flying instructipifl standards goes to Hector Taylor, DFM, who has been an instructor since 1938 and is one of the longest-serving members of the Panel of Examiners with more than 25,O00hr in his logbooks. Geoffrey Harrison of RAE Bedford receives the Sir James Martin Award for his work with microwave guid ance systems. The Sword of Honour for contribution to general avia tion goes to Sqn Ldr H. G. Pattison, DFC, for his work with the St John Ambulance Air Wing. The Brackley Memorial Trophy goes to members of the RAF Long Range Mari time Force who operated from Ascension Island during the Falklands cam paign: Gp Capt Jeremy Price, Wing Cdr Peter Squire, AFC, Fit Lt William Withers, Fit Lt Tony Cowen and Fit Lt Terry Locke. FLIGHT International, 23 October 198
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