Conclusión y próximos pasos

three people are needed for refueling an aircraft: refueling crewman, refueling station operator, and a plane captain. A crewleader (safety person) is also recommended but it is possible for the safety person to supervise more than one fueling operation simultaneously.

Aircraft refueling tasks are to be performed in the following sequence:

1. Secure all electronic and electrical switches on the aircraft not required for fueling.

2. Verify that manned firefighting equipment is in the area.

3. Take sample, if needed, for quality surveillance checks. Fuel sample shall be taken under flow conditions. Fuel shall be flushed through refuel- ing hose and nozzle and tested for contamination prior to refueling the first aircraft each day not to exceed 24 hours. Fueling shall not begin until acceptable results have been obtained, i.e., less than 2 mg/l and 5 ppm free water. (See Chapter 3.)

Failure to provide clean, clear, and bright fuel to aircraft can adversely affect safety-of-flight. 4. Check for “hot brake” condition (plane captain). 5. Attach grounding cable from the deck to the aircraft.

D Aircraft tie-downs shall not be removed or

altered during aircraft refueling evolution.

D Once a fueling evolution has com-

menced, the aircraft’s electrical power status and connections shall not be changed until evolution is completed. This means:

a. NO aircraft engines or auxiliary power units shall be started.

b. External power shall NOT be con- nected, disconnected, or switched on or off.

c. Changing the aircraft’s electrical power status can create significant ignition sources.

Note

D Aircraft must have initial tie-downs prior

to attachment of the grounding cable. Refer to individual aircraft NATOPS.

D Grounding (bonding) connections shall

be made to bare metal.

D Refueling shall not be performed unless a

qualified plane captain/aircrew is present. 6. Position the fuel hose.

7. Remove refueling adapter cap from the aircraft and the dust cover from the SPR nozzle. Inspect the face of the nozzle and make sure it is clean. Inspect index pin area for excessive wear. Verify that the flow control handle is in the fully closed and locked position.

8. Visually inspect the aircraft’s adapter (receptacle) for any damage or significant wear. If there is any doubt about the integrity of the adapter, notify the squadron representative who shall utilize the adapt- er go/no-go gauge (NSN 1RW-5220-01-301-9247) or alternate go/no-go gauge (NSN 5220-01-343- 1688) to determine acceptability.

A worn or broken adapter can defeat the safety interlocks of the refueling nozzle permitting the poppet valve to open and fuel to spray or spill.

9. Confirm that the switch on the nozzle quick disconnect coupling (QDC) is in the OFF position.

Note

This step is not applicable to air-capable ships since they do not have a QDC with the switch.

10. Lift nozzle by lifting handles, align the lugs on the nozzle with the slots on the aircraft adapter, and hook up the nozzle to the aircraft by pressing it firmly onto the adapter and rotating it clockwise to a positive stop.

Nozzle must seat firmly on the adapter and not be cocked. Cocking can indicate a malfunction of the nozzle’s safety interlock system that can lead to a fuel spray or spill.

Note

The recessed fuel panel of the Army AH-64A/D helicopter may cause interfer- ence with the original version of the Carter #64349 SPR nozzle. This nozzle must be mounted with the flow control handle ori- ented at the 8 o’clock position, to allow full travel of the handle.

11. Upon receiving signals from the nozzle operator that hook-up is complete and from the plane captain that he/she is ready to begin fueling operation, the station operator opens the appropri- ate valve (for air-capable ship only). The station operator must remain in position at controls throughout the entire fueling operation.

12. Place QDC switch in the ON (fuel) position (does not apply to air-capable ships).

13. When hose is fully charged, rotate the nozzle flowcontrol handle to the FULL OPEN position. The handle shall rotate 180 degrees to ensure that the poppet valve is fully open and locked.

The flow control handle of the SPR nozzle shall be placed in either of two locked positions — fully open or fully closed. The handle is NOT to be used as a flag to indicate fuel flow. Excessive wear on the aircraft adapter and the fuel nozzle poppet will result if the handle is allowed to “float” in the unlocked position.

14. Once fuel flow has been established, squadron personnel shall exercise the aircraft’s precheck system.

Note

D The precheck system simulates the

completion of refueling by closing all of the tank shut-off valves within the aircraft. All fuel flow into the aircraft should stop within a few seconds to 1 minute of actuating the precheck system. On ship the primary means of detecting successful precheck is by observing the flow indicator

on the aircraft. If the aircraft is not configured with indicator, an alternate method is to observe the jerk and stiffening of the refueling hose and/or the pressure spike that occurs at the refueling station.

D If an aircraft fails precheck it can be cold

refueled only if procedures are called out in the specific aircraft NATOPS.

D Refueling crewmembers will not perform

prechecks on aircraft. Qualified personnel will perform the prechecks in accordance with specific aircraft NATOPS.

15. Fuel aircraft as directed by flight plan. The plane captain shall monitor aircraft vents, tank pressure gauge(s) and/or warning lights as necessary. 16. When directed by the plane captain, place the

quick disconnect switch in the off position. Rotate the nozzle flow control handle into the OFF and fully locked position.

17. When hose is evacuated, disconnect nozzle from the aircraft adapter, replace adapter cap, and remove ground wire from aircraft, then deck. 18. If applicable, shut down refueling station. 19. Restow hose.

6.2.4 Overwing Refueling. Overwing (gravity)