Self Service 100LL
Our new self-service fuel pump is live from today (Monday 12th June)! Going forward, all refuelling from the 100LL pump will be done by pilots themselves. We believe this is an improvement, as we know that often pilots are frustrated by having to wait for Fire Crew to come back from other duties to complete the refuelling.
FUEL AVAILABILITY
100LL will continue to be available from 08:00 local until 18:00 local daily. In the morning we have to run check samples on the fuel, and so the 08:00 start time enables us to complete these. Often the pumps will be open before 08:00. As currently, if you need an early getaway, refuelling the day before is recommended.
The pumps will be locked off at 18:00 daily (or when the aerodrome closes if later). The introduction of Self-Service refuelling presents the opportunity for fuelling to be left available for OOH flyers in the summer. But first, we want to iron out any teething issues with the process, and allow pilots to familiarise themselves with the pump. We will review this in 3 months.
ACCOUNT CARDS
At present, the pump will only accept Blackbushe local account cards. It will not accept credit or debit cards. We first ordered this kit in November 2021, it’s taken 20 months to get this far due to delays with equipment and installation. During this time we applied once for card processing services. But since that application was granted, HTEC have switched payment providers and we’ve had to start over again!
Your account card is a swipe card, please keep it protected from scratches. We recommend you keep it in the aircraft to ensure you always have it at the pumps.
The account card can only be used with the PIN number provided with your card. Although the risk of fraud with these cards is very low, please don’t keep the PIN number with the card, perhaps keep a note in your phone instead!
PAYMENT
Payment hasn’t changed, we will continue to bill you weekly for fuel on a Tuesday, with the payment taken the following Tuesday. All resident aircraft are either on Direct Debit or Continuous Payment Authority with a card. There is no intention to remove this line of credit from anybody. Once credit card payments can be accepted by the pump, you may choose to pay at the point of dispensing if you prefer, but the weekly invoice system will remain available to everyone.
TRAINING
When your card is collected, a member of the Fire Crew will come to the pumps with you to walk you through the first refuel. If you’re a group member and aren’t the person collecting your card, if you would like assistance with the machine on your first refuel, then ask a member of the Fire Crew who will be happy to assist.
The Fire Crew have also put together a training video which can be viewed here:
FUEL SPILLS, EQUIPMENT DAMAGE ETC.
If you have a fuel spillage, please contact the RFFS immediately who have spill kits to contain it. If you notice any damage to the equipment, whether caused by you or not, please report it immediately. It is incredibly important that the equipment is kept safe for use by all and does not result in damage to aircraft or injury to persons.
STEPLADDER
A stepladder is provided for high-wing aircraft and is checked daily by the Fire Crew. Please ensure when using it that it has all four feet firmly on the ground and is not prone to tipping over. Ensure it is returned immediately adjacent to the pump after use so it is not an obstruction for other aircraft.
If you’ve finished fuelling, pull your aircraft forward to allow others behind to refuel. Always ensure you check behind you before starting up, as others may be on a ladder, and the propwash could cause an injury.
UL91, JET-A1, AND BOWSER REFUELLING
The UL91 pumps have not been fitted with a self-service pump at present. Please see the Fire Crew for attended refuelling in the usual way. JET-A1 will continue to be by bowser only.
The 100LL bowser will continue to be available. However, from 1st July 2023, a charge will be made for its use as follows:
· Rotary Aircraft – No Charge
· Twin Engine Aircraft – No Charge
· Aerobility Aircraft – No Charge
· All Other Aircraft - £5.00 per fuelling operation inclusive of VAT
There will of course not be a charge when the bowser is used during bulk fuel deliveries or other times when the pump is unavailable.
This charge does not apply to JET-A1 bowser fuelling for which there is no pump option.
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The system is configured with this step as default and we can’t bypass it. But also, there are lots of customers with multiple aircraft in their fleet which can change from time to time, and likewise some people bring in other aircraft whilst theirs is on maintenance. Entering the registration at each refuel ensures the records are correct.
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This is a standard safety precaution contained within JIG practices with which we must demonstrate compliance. Aircraft are required to be empty in case of combustion during the refuelling process, as it is cumbersome to get out of most aircraft in a hurry. It also prevents the accidental operation of systems on the aircraft which could present a hazard to the fuelling process. The only exception to this is for Aerobility, who often have pilots or passengers with mobility requirements, for whom this is impractical, but they still endeavour to avoid this wherever possible.
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We have set all the accounts with an unlimited credit limit (£999), so it simply shows the remaining account balance. If the screen shows anything other than £999 please let us know so we can check the account settings and avoid it blocking a future refuel.
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There are a significant number of pilots who’ve been asking for this, as they’re often frustrated by a long wait for fuelling if Fire Crew are on other duties. We are also committed to keeping our fuel and landing fees as low as possible for our customers. This enables cost and efficiency savings, avoiding the need to hire additional staff whose salaries must be covered, either in the fuel price, or in the parking and landing fees.
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To incentivise pilots to use the self-service pumps. You’ll have no doubt have noticed how labour-intensive a bowser refuel can be. If we only have 3 firefighters on shift, then the refueller must be able to respond to an emergency. This means we have to send a fire engine with the bowser. So, a bowser refuel consumes 10-15 minutes of two members of staff time, plus the fuel involved to run both vehicles. The charge we’ve put in place still doesn’t cover this cost.
QUESTIONS & FEEDBACK
Please direct any questions or feedback to the admin team: admin@blackbusheairport.co.uk