The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Fuel Forum was held in Kuala Lumpur this week with fuel handling and filtration a major topic of discussion. The group of airline, supplier and manufacturer delegates met to discuss technical issues including the on-going concern about aviation fuel filter monitors (fuses).
Late last month, the United Kingdom-based Energy Institute (EI), a leading professional body for the energy industries, issued a warning on the use of aviation fuel filter monitors qualified to IP 1583 4th edition or earlier editions. Aviation fuel filter monitors have been used for many years to prevent water and other contaminants from being delivered to aircraft during fueling operations. Evidence exists that water-absorbing polymers from the fuel filter monitors may migrate downstream into aircraft fuel systems, resulting in clogged aircraft fuel filters and possibly triggering a filter bypass condition.
In the March 2006 edition of NATA's Safety 1st eToolkit, the issues surrounding the use of fuel filter monitors were addressed in an article titled "Aircraft Refueling Filter Crisis." The information contained in the article remains relevant today, and it is recommended that fuel providers using fuel filter monitors review the Safety 1st eToolkit article as well as the EI warning bulletin.
