Fuel Grounding on water
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Fuel Grounding on water
Does a float plane tied up to a dock on the water need to have a grounding wire attached to it from a fuel tank that sits on rubber tires on the shore?
Reasons for your answers would be good. Thanx
Reasons for your answers would be good. Thanx
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Yes because Air BP says so.
"FLY THE AIRPLANE"!
http://www.youtube.com/hazatude
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So does TC
http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/comme ... ction2.htm
When transfering fuel from any type of vessel into another vessel one should ensure that the into and out of vessels are bonded to each other. I have heard of static electricity being generated when pouring fuel from a plastic jerry can into a metal can. Once a fluid is set in motion the motion will build up a static charge. The only way to ensure that there is no rapid dissipation of the static charge ( i.e. a spark) is to bond one vessel to another.
http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/comme ... ction2.htm
When transfering fuel from any type of vessel into another vessel one should ensure that the into and out of vessels are bonded to each other. I have heard of static electricity being generated when pouring fuel from a plastic jerry can into a metal can. Once a fluid is set in motion the motion will build up a static charge. The only way to ensure that there is no rapid dissipation of the static charge ( i.e. a spark) is to bond one vessel to another.
Plastic is a real twat when it comes to generating static. NEVER use a plastic bristled brrom to sweep up a fuel spill.
Last edited by hazatude on Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I'm sorry. I forgot which forum I was in
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I was taking an Egress course not to long ago (good idea I say... DO IT), and we briefly touched on static buildup for float planes.
The instructor said the best way to prevent a static buildup in plastic cans is to dip the bottoms of them in the water prior to fueling.
Anti
The instructor said the best way to prevent a static buildup in plastic cans is to dip the bottoms of them in the water prior to fueling.
Anti
"It's not the size of the hammer, it's how you nail" - Kanga
My 2 cents
The reason that you bond a wheel aircraft to a fuel truck is that they are both individually insulated from eachother due to the rubber on the ground.
In regards to a floatplane, the aircraft is grounded to earth, and 99.9 % of fuel tanks are grounded to earth as well, so there is no potential to develop a difference in potential (pardon the pun)
The reason that you bond a wheel aircraft to a fuel truck is that they are both individually insulated from eachother due to the rubber on the ground.
In regards to a floatplane, the aircraft is grounded to earth, and 99.9 % of fuel tanks are grounded to earth as well, so there is no potential to develop a difference in potential (pardon the pun)
Bondind while fueling a seaplane
Believe it or not, fresh water is an insulator. Seaplanes should be bonded with the fueling source with bonding cable. If you are using a funnel it should be either of metal construction or one that is a plastic conducting type (see Mr. Funnel, they make a number of different sizes).
Remember that a lot of the hoses used for aviation fueling do not have a bonding wire built into the hose, automotive ones used in gas stations do. That is why there is a seperate bonding cable when you fuel an aircraft.
Be especially careful if you are fueling while tied to a Jetfloat dock, the static on these is a real eye opener!!
Spafloats
Remember that a lot of the hoses used for aviation fueling do not have a bonding wire built into the hose, automotive ones used in gas stations do. That is why there is a seperate bonding cable when you fuel an aircraft.
Be especially careful if you are fueling while tied to a Jetfloat dock, the static on these is a real eye opener!!
Spafloats
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The static charge occurs on the surface of the gasoline within the can. Dipping the gas can into the water will not do anything unless it is made of conductive plastic. Like wise trying to bond the outside of the can with metal cables tied to the handle will not disipate the charge. The bonding has to actually touch the liquid to disipate the charge.
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never did such thing, so does any operators
Even TC didn't bother for that, when they fueled their floatplane at our dock.
A floatplane sitting in the water is grounded. Of course if your tank is sitting on tires, your tank may have a pottential, so make sur to ground it. Another good precaution is to touch your fuel cap with the hose before starting.
I think that the CAR state that you are suppose to have an efficient way of dissipating the charge, or something like that...
I read once that a wire will dissipate one sort of static that the water won't... But it's a long time ago, and I can't find it and can't recall exactly what it was...
Of course, if you have the possibility of doing it, than why wouldn't you do it, like the other fellow said, it only takes a few sec!!! but the only dock I've seen equiped with such thing was the one of my flying school...
Even TC didn't bother for that, when they fueled their floatplane at our dock.
A floatplane sitting in the water is grounded. Of course if your tank is sitting on tires, your tank may have a pottential, so make sur to ground it. Another good precaution is to touch your fuel cap with the hose before starting.
I think that the CAR state that you are suppose to have an efficient way of dissipating the charge, or something like that...
I read once that a wire will dissipate one sort of static that the water won't... But it's a long time ago, and I can't find it and can't recall exactly what it was...
Of course, if you have the possibility of doing it, than why wouldn't you do it, like the other fellow said, it only takes a few sec!!! but the only dock I've seen equiped with such thing was the one of my flying school...
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No story there. I just have shares in the corn-broom industry
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All I ever did was touch the fuel nozzle to the wing before I opened the tank cap. The floats should be grounded to the water. Only pure water is an insulator. Lake water should easily have enough impuriites to allow it to conduct electricity. Never lost my eyebrows using this method.
Seaplane grounding and bonding
Have a look at the National Fire Protection Association`s bulletin #407 (Aircraft Fuel Servicing) and #77 (Static Electicity) for some helpful insight.
Also, have a look at Scepter Plastics website for info. on Gas Transit containers that are spec`d for carrying fuel on board an aircraft.
Spafloats
Also, have a look at Scepter Plastics website for info. on Gas Transit containers that are spec`d for carrying fuel on board an aircraft.
Spafloats
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Wanna try something neat, fill a test tube a quater full with gas and equal parts of diesel fuel. Go into a dark room and shake...doing a safety course on handling different fuels opened my eyes to this danger.
Putting money into aviation is like wiping before you poop....it just don't make sense!