Moorabbin fuel rant
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Moorabbin fuel rant
For the second time in close to two months I've been into Moorabbin and two of the three swipe card bowsers are non-operational with an A4 message stick-taped on them. One takes credit card and the other takes Carnet. Upon visiting the remaining bowser, I need a specific Carnet card specific to that fuel company, however I don't have that one.
The attendant / truck driver says he can fuel me up but he can't crank up the bowser it will have to be from his truck. He said he'd have to go and get the truck from the depot (he only parked it 1 minute earlier) and he would then need to go and start up the credit card machine which he would rather not have to do.
I say fine, don't bother, I'll takeoff without fuel and I hope I make it.
Am I expecting too much to get some customer service for my $200 investment of some 100 litres of AvGas? Is this normal for YMMB? Do I need to be part of a large flying school or would he come running if I was a large twin with big tanks perhaps?
The attendant / truck driver says he can fuel me up but he can't crank up the bowser it will have to be from his truck. He said he'd have to go and get the truck from the depot (he only parked it 1 minute earlier) and he would then need to go and start up the credit card machine which he would rather not have to do.
I say fine, don't bother, I'll takeoff without fuel and I hope I make it.
Am I expecting too much to get some customer service for my $200 investment of some 100 litres of AvGas? Is this normal for YMMB? Do I need to be part of a large flying school or would he come running if I was a large twin with big tanks perhaps?
Easy fixed, head to Essendon, much better service there IMHO, the Refuellers there have always been helpful and is always from a truck. Not to mention Essendon is much easier to get around and far less training traffic.
Easy fixed, head to Essendon, much better service there IMHO, the Refuellers there have always been helpful and is always from a truck. Not to mention Essendon is much easier to get around and far less training traffic
I need a specific Carnet card specific to that fuel company, however I don't have that one.
Essendon & Moorabbin fuel are both owned by World Fuel now. I don't understand why one would be easier than the other. All of them have VHF frequencies & phone numbers published in ERSA. Its pretty easy to call ahead or radio when you are taxying in.
You haven't named names, but the Old Tyson's (Mobil) requires a world fuel carnet (same as Essendon), Shell uses credit cards Nationally and I've never bought from BP at Moorabbin, so I don't know. Tyson's used to issue BP carnets, but BP changed policy a few years back and returned to issuing their own carnets.
For a small quantity (like $200) you may be better to fly into Tyabb and use the credit card swipe machine. The fuel price is higher at Tyabb but for 100 litres its more than offset by the landing fee.
Old Akro, as I understand it Mobil is now World Fuel.
Having a full suite of Carnet cards sounds great in theory but it sounds like he's saying they use their own specific Carnet Card, like the Darling Downs one for example, this would be a bit of a hassle IMHO. If by using their own he means they're using World Fuel instead of Mobil now which is just a change of name and a new card really.
As I understand it's getting harder and more expensive to keep a full suite of Carnet cards these days for a Private Pilot, I don't fly privately much so don't have a lot of experience and luckily my employers keep us furnished with the whole lot as we go everywhere.
Having a full suite of Carnet cards sounds great in theory but it sounds like he's saying they use their own specific Carnet Card, like the Darling Downs one for example, this would be a bit of a hassle IMHO. If by using their own he means they're using World Fuel instead of Mobil now which is just a change of name and a new card really.
As I understand it's getting harder and more expensive to keep a full suite of Carnet cards these days for a Private Pilot, I don't fly privately much so don't have a lot of experience and luckily my employers keep us furnished with the whole lot as we go everywhere.
When you live....
Unless I'm mistaken, these days a private pilot needs to hold the following carnets only:
- World Fuel (all ex Mobil sites)
- Aerorefuels (for most regional NSW and adjacent)
- BP (this is the only one which may be hard - I understand that when BP took it back in house they got silly on the issuing of credit)
Shell and other sites can be done by regular credit card.
Its generally easy enough to avoid BP only airports and World Fuel cards can be got easily from (say) Tysons and Aerofuels direct from the company. BP one can live without (generally) so for the hassle of getting 2 cards then you're pretty much sorted Australia wide.
Regards
UTR
- World Fuel (all ex Mobil sites)
- Aerorefuels (for most regional NSW and adjacent)
- BP (this is the only one which may be hard - I understand that when BP took it back in house they got silly on the issuing of credit)
Shell and other sites can be done by regular credit card.
Its generally easy enough to avoid BP only airports and World Fuel cards can be got easily from (say) Tysons and Aerofuels direct from the company. BP one can live without (generally) so for the hassle of getting 2 cards then you're pretty much sorted Australia wide.
Regards
UTR
UTR, I'm lead to understand the process for obtaining the World Fuel and BP cards can be quite expensive now? Requiring a very large bond or deposit to be made for it?
I agree with what you say about the cards required though, that'll cover you for 99% of places.
I agree with what you say about the cards required though, that'll cover you for 99% of places.
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One of my main points is that two of the three bowsers have been out of order for near 2 months. Too bad if you dropped in after hours or when the refueller knocks off early.
I got a full set of fuel cards from these guys Home - Skyfuel in around 10 working days.
The only carnet I don't have is the Shell card. But at all the Shell bowsers that I've used over the last few years, you have the option of flashing the credit card. Pretty much covers me for anywhere we go.
....or turn up at the BP bowser at Newman to find that BHP had decided to shut off the power to the airport side of town. The half hour fuel stop turned into a 5 hour layover!
The only carnet I don't have is the Shell card. But at all the Shell bowsers that I've used over the last few years, you have the option of flashing the credit card. Pretty much covers me for anywhere we go.
Too bad if you dropped in after hours or when the refueller knocks off early
UTR, I'm lead to understand the process for obtaining the World Fuel and BP cards can be quite expensive now? Requiring a very large bond or deposit to be made for it?
A Fuel carnet is essentially a credit facility. So, understandably, you need to prove that you are credit worthy. I got mine years ago and probably provided a couple of trade references.
But, get the form from their website or call Mark Rofey (ex Tyson) who is now based in the World Fuel offices at Essendon.
Gassed, was that you and your merry crew of singles going through Newman that day?
Lined up at YNWN waitn' for the power to crank the bowser. Apololgies to SWTT, BOT.
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I got a full set of fuel cards from these guys Home - Skyfuel in around 10 working days.
The only carnet I don't have is the Shell card. But at all the Shell bowsers that I've used over the last few years, you have the option of flashing the credit card. Pretty much covers me for anywhere we go.
....or turn up at the BP bowser at Newman to find that BHP had decided to shut off the power to the airport side of town. The half hour fuel stop turned into a 5 hour layover!
The only carnet I don't have is the Shell card. But at all the Shell bowsers that I've used over the last few years, you have the option of flashing the credit card. Pretty much covers me for anywhere we go.
....or turn up at the BP bowser at Newman to find that BHP had decided to shut off the power to the airport side of town. The half hour fuel stop turned into a 5 hour layover!
I can't avoid Broken Hill but I sure can and do now avoid Swan Hill for the same reason.
Kaz
