The idea of checking for microbiological contamination in petroleum products may sound counter-intuitive since jet fuel is normally regarded as an inert product. But in some particular cases such as aviation fuel, performing microbial testing on a regular basis is not only critical – it’s an absolutely vital and mandatory aspect of the overarching process known as fuel husbandry.
It is widely known within the business aviation industry that any aircraft fuel system needs to be regularly checked for microbiological growth. This is to avoid the potential hazards that invariably result from aviation jet fuel contamination.
This applies to all types of jet fuel, including conventional jet fuel, alternative jet fuel, and sustainable aviation fuel. Performing regular checks can avoid significant wastes of time and resources, since the earlier a contamination is detected, the simpler and faster it will be to deal with.
What Is Aviation Fuel Microbial Contamination?
Aviation fuels are indeed a breeding ground for microbial growth that can lead to tangible issues if left unchecked. An airship’s fuel system has warm and humid qualities that favor jet fuel contamination.
This can cause all sorts of problems from simply blocking filters to problems with gauging or even causing widespread corrosion. This can eventually damage the tank structure.
This can create a serious failure risk. All business aviation customers should pay close attention to this matter since taking preemptive measures often leads to significant savings. This applies to all aircraft types regardless of what type of fuel they use, including all kinds of alternative jet fuels.
When Should I Conduct Aviation Fuel Contamination Testing?
According to the guidelines established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), jet fuel should be checked for contamination once every 12 months. While this process may be carried out more often across the aviation industry supply chain, it’s vital to check for fuel contamination.
This is done by obtaining a fuel sample directly from the fuel tank in order to investigate whether there could be microbiological contamination present.
The sample should be collected directly from the engine fuel system and dropped into a contamination test kit. This kit allows for performing a quick visual check that might indicate the presence of active contaminants.
The collected sample is then forwarded to a laboratory so that a thorough inspection can be performed at the microscopic level. Worthwhile to keep in mind that there are various degrees of contamination (since it effectively involves a growing culture of microorganisms that feed on certain components of the fuel), and it’s far easier to take preventive measures or to resolve early contamination – whereas dealing with one that has already spread to the engine or other components aside from the fuel tank would invariably be extremely time consuming and expensive.
As such, it’s highly advisable to perform checks for microbiological contaminants very aggressively and regularly. In contrast, the cost of doing so is quite negligible, compared to the hefty maintenance required if contamination occurs.
By carrying out regular monitoring, there is a much lower likelihood that microorganism cultures will become significant. Moreover, it’s often possible to anticipate such occurrences microscopically – and dealing with them at the earliest signs by taking additional measures is much simpler.
What Happens If Microbial Growth In Aviation Jet Fuel Is Left Unchecked?
It’s critical to keep checking regularly even when it comes to airships that are in storage for long periods of time. This is because otherwise contamination can fester undetected and lead to structural damage that could lead to costly and time-consuming repairs.
Part of adequate maintenance of any airship involves performing these checks consistently; when an aircraft is parked it needs to actually be checked more often than when it is in active use.
This is to ensure there are no residual amounts of fuel in the tank that could otherwise remain unnoticed. This would enable microorganisms to fester undetected – potentially leading to contamination that might even be difficult to sort through.
This is in comparison to an active engine, in which fuel is continuously replenished. Aircraft inspections must also be more thorough. This is because the tank walls often have fuel residues that aren’t easy to fully remove. This can be a breeding ground for all sorts of molds, bacteria, and yeast.
Aircraft that remain in active parking won’t have their fuel tanks emptied, but rather kept with a small fraction of fuel inside. This allows running the engines every week or so, which can reduce the chances of microbiological contamination. It also allows collecting a fuel sample from the tank more easily, in order to perform regular testing for contaminants.