Planespotta

Chances are that my next X-C flight will bring me to an airport where I will need to pump avgas into my plane by myself . . . for the very first time. Up until now, I have coincidentally flown to airports where I'd have the luxury of going inside an FBO, flipping through a few magazines, chatting with a few pilots, and taking a bathroom break while the line crew would fill up my plane for me. Not this next flight.

I have heard many horror stories regarding people filling up their planes for the first time, and was wondering what the more "experienced" (relative to me) pilots out there recommend I do to make the refueling go smoothly and safely. What is the overall process from start to finish? How do I ground it out? Any advice is welcome, and I apologize in advance for my 100% noobish question

de727ups

It's a no brainer. You can do it for your car, you can do it for your plane. It will be similar.

First thing you do is pull up to the pump and connect the grounding cable. Swipe your card at the pump and follow the directions. You may need to input your N number. If it doesn't work out too well, just make something up. I swear these machines are set up to make you fail.

If it's a Cessna, hopefully, there is a ladder around. Or your plane has steps and handles.

Do your business. Do your best to reel up the hose and grounding cable. And get your receipt.

It's fun stuff. You'll always get your hands dirty. Never wear a shirt you like when you fly. Always expect the worst and hope for the best.

BrandedPilot

Just to add:

Clip the ground cable to the muffler.. always a good ground point.

MAGS OFF!!!! Double check that, just a little bump on a ungrounded mag could kill you.

Don't fill to the top of the neck, stop about a fingernail before or else you will for sure learn about how those pumps don't shut off right away and always overfill about a liter.

Don't forget to test your fuel, let it sit for a few minutes. I once had over a gallon of water from a 24 hour pump! Smell is a good key, dip your finger in it also and it should turn white from the LL in the gas.

and.... PLEASE don't ever try to unchock a running airplane LIKE I ONCE DID! I got it stopped, but had to break a leg doing it. LOL

(Yeah, call me stupid - but in the scenario I thought it would work if I was lightning quick. Got stuck trying to jump my chocks after I forgot about them. A cessna at idle power, WILL move out with some authority all on it's own.... it is a hella funny story all on it's own. I learned a LOT that day, to include my lesson on don't go flying with a broken leg.)

TonyC

Have you thought about hanging out with the line guy at your home airport? Ask him if you can follow him around and let him teach you how to refuel your airplane. You might make a new friend in the process.







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Albief15

I have a Navion and prefer doing the fueling myself. Self serve pumps are cheaper, generally open 24/7 (I do a lot of flying in late afternoons and early evenings) and while line guys are generally very careful it is MY paint job and MY tip tanks that will be scuffed if they goon it up. After wincing watching some guys manhandle my plane I generally opt to do it myself now.

So--watch out--you may find pumping your own gas gets addicting. At the least, it should save you some money.

Pilotpip

Don't ground an exhaust pipe please. They aren't exactly the strongest thing on earth and can easily crack. I found this out the hard way when I first started working line service and needless to say the customer wasn't exactly happy.

I'd suggest a towbar lug. Pipers and many other low wing aircraft often have a grounding tab near the filler neck. Cessnas not so much.

Take it slow when fueling. The pumps don't have a shutoff like the one for your car has. If you can see in the tank make sure to stop with a little space. If you're like me and too short to see in a cessna tank when on the aircraft steps you might have a blue waterfall (gasfall?) streaming over the flap the first time.

Mitragorz

In my four years of lineman-ing, I've never had an exhaust pipe crack. I've had my share of "drive away with the bonding cable connected" instances and the only thing that bent was the grounding clip.

Exhaust pipes are pretty strong.

navigatro

if in doubt, don't be afraid to ask for help

Ewfflyer

Not a big issue, I've self-served everything from c150's to a TBM850(Jet-A sucks self-serve, bring latex gloves!!) Just remember it's not a race, take your time, and you'll be fine. There's really no reason to have the fuel filled all the way to the rim of the tank, leave at least 1/2-1" below the filler.

If you're on an uneven surface(I've seen 5 degree's once) in a cessna, close your fuel valve before filling, the cross-fill will transfer fuel right out of the plane while you're doing something and not paying attention. **Disclaimer**Of course don't forget to turn it on after you get back in. The plane will run just long enough to get to the runway in most situations, so it can catch you off guard. Also be careful of supplied ladders at the self-serve farms, some of them are nice, some will kill you!

ryan1234

after the first time you do it... you will probably ask yourself why you posted the question...

as for "horror stories" ... those people should not be flying airplanes

btw...if you are paying for it yourself... you pay for the fuel left in the hose... so after you shut the pump off you can hold the hose up and squeeze the handle and you'll get about 1-2 gals more depending on the particular fuel farm.

After you pump gas for the first time, you'll start to wonder why you pay a fuel surcharge at your place of rental and how much you can save by not getting the full serve option. Proper leaning techniques along with pumping your own gas at a reasonable place can save an amazing amount of money.... see if you can work out a dry rate with your FBO.