Fueling equipment manufacturers gathered recently to share solutions, best practices and new innovations with ground handlers, military personnel and other representatives of the ground support community.
After a three-year hiatus, the Gammon Aviation Fuel Handling Training Symposium returned. The event was held in conjunction with the NPMA Petro 23 Conference in Washington D.C. in March.
“This was a very abbreviated symposium. Normally, we do two and half days. This was basically condensed into a third of that size,” said Jim Gammon, president of Gammon Technical Products.
During the co-hosted event, the Gammon Symposium brought subject matter experts from Liquid Controls, Total Control Systems, Cla-Val, Eaton/Carter Ground Fueling, Meggitt, Westmor, Rampmaster, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), Argus Consulting, Parker Velcon, Facet Filtration, Airlines for America (A4A) and more.
These industry representatives offered attendees updates on smart metering, control valves, nozzles, system designs, fuel quality control, contamination mitigation and fuel filtration technology, among others.
“As far as what going on that’s changing into plane fueling is that we’re improving the systems and making them more efficient,” Gammon said.
He pointed to energy efficient refueling trucks that offer reduced emissions and fuel consumption, electric refuelers and electric hydrant carts as just a few examples of the advancements taking place in this area of ground support equipment.
Members of the industry also discussed present-day challenges. For example, material availability continues to impact the industry and influence lead times for manufacturers.
Speakers also pointed out workforce issues that need to be overcome.
“A lot of people saw COVID as a good reason to retire,” Gammon said. “When COVID hit, they said ‘the heck with it, I’m retiring.’ Well, now you’ve lost the guy who ‘knew how do to that.’
“I think it’s affecting every industry.”
Ideally, the industry will determine solutions for these problems. The goal of the symposium, Gammon explained, is to bring stakeholders – including competitors – into the same room to work together.
“Everybody benefits,” he said. “That was the whole reason for the symposium. Not to have a straight educational thing, but to have the competitors up there discussing things.”
Gammon said the results have been good.
“It’s worked out great. In the long run, what’s best for the industry is best for everybody in it,” Gammon said.
