(1) Fuel handling.
(i) Aircraft shall not be engaged in fuel
handling in an area where aircraft engines are operating, aircraft or engines
are being warmed by application of heat, or while the aircraft is located in a
congested area.
(ii) A properly
trained person shall be present and responsive while fuel is being transferred
into or out of any fuel storage facility (from or into refueling vehicle).
(a) The person shall remain within the
immediate vicinity, in close proximity to, and in direct view of all operating
controls and refueling vehicles.
(b) The person shall not leave the discharge
end of any hose(s) unattended at any time while the transfer of fuel is in
progress.
(c) The person shall not
block open, disengage, or deactivate the "deadman" or any related controls
while fuel handling.
(iii) All fuel handling
shall be treated with due caution and circumspection with regard to the rights,
safety, and security of others so as not to endanger, or be likely to endanger,
persons or property.
(iv) Persons
engaged in fuel handling shall exercise care and extreme caution to prevent
overflow or spills of fuel or oils.
(a) Should
a fuel or oil spill occur at the airport, the party responsible shall
fully comply with section 176.3(p) of this Part. (v)
Refueling vehicles shall be positioned so the vehicle can be directly
driven
away from the loading or refueling position in the event of
spill or fire.
(vi) Fuel handling shall be conducted
outdoors and at least 25 feet from any
hangar or building and 50 feet from any combustion and
ventilation air-intake to
any boiler, heater, or incinerator room or as approved by the
authority and the
fire department.
(vii) Vehicles shall be refueled only at
refueling stations and from dispensing
devices approved by the authority and the fire
department.
(viii) In the
absence of suitable ground support equipment, a turbine-powered
auxiliary power unit mounted at the rear of the aircraft or
on the wing on the side
opposite from the fueling point may be operated during fuel
handling.
(a) A turbine-powered
auxiliary power unit may be operated during fuel handling provided its design,
installation, location, and combustion air source do not constitute a fuel
vapor ignition source.
(b) Fuel
handling shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures stipulated in the
aircraft operator's manual.
(ix) Fuel handling shall not occur if an
electrical storm is in progress in the immediate vicinity of the airport.
(a) Fuel handling may resume 15 minutes
following any reported or
observed lightning flash within 5 miles of the airport. (x)
The refueling vehicle shall be bonded to the aircraft or fuel storage facility
to equalize the voltage potential.
(a) All hoses, nozzles, spouts, funnels, and
appurtenances used in fuel
handling shall be FM or UL approved and shall be equipped
with a bonding
device to prevent ignition of volatile liquids. (xi)
Refueling vehicles shall not be operated in reverse unless another trained
person is present to safely monitor and direct the movement of the refueling
vehicle.
(xii) Fuel handling shall not
occur while passengers are on board the aircraft unless a passenger-loading
ramp is in place at the aircraft's cabin door, the door is in the open
position, and a qualified attendant is present at the door. (xiii) No person
shall operate any radio transmitter or receiver or switch it on or off during
fuel handling unless said radio transmitter or receiver is designed
specifically for such environment.
(xiv) No person shall operate aircraft
electrical systems or switch aircraft electrical appliances on or off during
fuel handling.
(xv) Hold down or
hold open devices on refueling vehicle nozzles are prohibited. (xvi) For single
point fueling, "deadman" controls or mechanisms shall be utilized and shall
remain in safe operating condition and good working order.
(a) No person shall deactivate or bypass a
"deadman" control or
mechanism at any time. (xvii) During fuel handling, no person
shall use any material or equipment which is likely to cause a spark or
ignition within 50 feet.
(a) Smoking, matches, lighters, and open
flames
(e.g., candles, fixtures, or
fires) are prohibited within 50 feet of any
aircraft, refueling vehicle, or fuel
storage facility. (xviii) Refueling vehicles (including fuel
tankers) shall only use the entrance, exit, and route designated by the
authority during the transportation and delivery of fuel.
(xix) Refueling vehicles (including fuel
tankers) shall be subject to inspection at any time to determine compliance
with these rules and regulations. (xx) The authority assumes no liability or
responsibility for any violation of any aircraft, refueling vehicle or
refueling requirement or procedure, any error, omission, negligence, or any
violation of any regulatory measure relating to fuel handling.
(a) Entities engaged in fuel handling shall
be solely, fully, and completely responsible for any such violation, error,
omission, or negligence incident to or in connection with the entities fuel
storage facilities, refueling vehicles, fuel handling, and training.
(b) Entities engaged in fuel handling shall
reimburse the authority for any fines, legal or court costs, incurred by the
authority for any such violation, error, omission, or negligence.
(2) Rotorcraft rapid
refueling.
(i) Only turbine engine rotorcraft
fueled with jet fuel shall be permitted to be
fueled while an onboard engine is operating. All sources of
ignition must be
located above the fuel inlet port(s), vents or tank
openings.
(ii) An
FAA-licensed rotorcraft pilot shall be at the rotorcraft controls during the
entire fuel handling process.
(iii) If applicable, medical crew members
shall be ready to remove the patient
from the rotorcraft to a safe area in the event of a fuel
handling accident.
(iv)
Only designated personnel, properly trained in rapid refueling operations,
shall operate the refueling vehicle.
(v) All doors, windows, and access points
allowing entry to the interior of the
rotorcraft which are adjacent to, or in the immediate
vicinity of, the fuel inlet ports
shall be closed and shall remain closed during fuel
handling.
(vi) Fuel shall
be dispensed into an open port from approved dead-man type
nozzles, with a flow rate not to exceed 60 gallons per minute
or it shall be
dispensed through close-coupled pressure fueling
ports.
(vii) When fuel is
dispensed from fixed piping systems the hose cabinet shall not
extend into the rotor space.
(viii) The refueling vehicle shall be
pre-positioned in a designated area and the
rotorcraft will land after the refueling vehicle has been
parked and the wheels
chocked (maintaining no less than 20 feet between any
rotorcraft rotating
component and the refueling vehicle). The refueling vehicle
shall not be moved
or relocated while the rotorcraft is on the ground or
hovering near-by.
(3) Storage of refueling vehicles.
(i) Refueling vehicles shall be stored
outdoors and not less than 50 feet from a building or at the distance approved
by the fire department unless the building is designed, constructed, and used
exclusively, and approved by the fire
department specifically for this purpose.
(ii) Refueling vehicles shall be parked in a
manner that provides a minimum of 10 feet of separation between vehicles and
any other vehicle or aircraft and a minimum of 20 feet from a storm water
inlet.
(4) Maintenance
of refueling vehicles.
(i) Maintenance of
refueling vehicles shall be performed outdoors or in a building which is
approved by the fire department specifically for this purpose.
(ii) Entities engaged in fuel handling shall
document and maintain and keep on file refueling vehicle maintenance records.
These records shall be made available to the authority upon request.
(5) Fuel storage facilities.
(i) All security gates leading into fuel
storage facilities shall remain (be kept) closed, locked, and secured except
when actually in use.
