Jerry cans in aircraft
Thread Starter
Jerry cans in aircraft
Imagine that I wanted to carry, say, 60L of AVGAS in the back of an aircraft in jerry cans. What cans would one choose to use, and what precautions would one take in filling, flying, and refueling from them?
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Sorry to wee on your potential bonfire(couldn't resist that one) but I think you'll find that carrying fuel in any part of an aircraft not designed to do so is illegal.
Having said that, you can get temporary ferry tanks fitted to some aircraft for temporary use.
As regards jerry cans, I think some people in the microlight/permit aircraft world do sometimes do this (still illegally) and get away with it, generally by strapping a jerry can into the passenger seat.
As regards the dangers, I would guess its as dangerous as you make it. I wouldn't do it but I wouldn't necessarily condemn someone who did. How well will it be secured? Does the can have a secondary locking pin for the lid? Are you in an open cockpit so fumes aren't an issue?
Edit: Apologies, I've just noted what country you're posting from and I'm not sure on the regulations governing this issue there.
As regards practicalities, could you let us know what the purpose is and what the aircraft type is and then perhaps we could be of more help?
Having said that, you can get temporary ferry tanks fitted to some aircraft for temporary use.
As regards jerry cans, I think some people in the microlight/permit aircraft world do sometimes do this (still illegally) and get away with it, generally by strapping a jerry can into the passenger seat.
As regards the dangers, I would guess its as dangerous as you make it. I wouldn't do it but I wouldn't necessarily condemn someone who did. How well will it be secured? Does the can have a secondary locking pin for the lid? Are you in an open cockpit so fumes aren't an issue?
Edit: Apologies, I've just noted what country you're posting from and I'm not sure on the regulations governing this issue there.
As regards practicalities, could you let us know what the purpose is and what the aircraft type is and then perhaps we could be of more help?
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have them earthed
Sorry, I could not resist. Other parts of the world would refer to this as "bonding" but no disrespect intended.
The carrying of "jerry cans" is done in Canada, but it's not talked about too much! All of the safety concerns and risks are are self evident. I can't speak to local legality, but sometimes you gotta do what you've gotta do!
Tie them down well, and in contact electically (bonded) to the primary structure. There is Canadian guidance material on cabin tanks, I can dig it up for you if it would help...
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Operating in the Philippines, we often carry fuel in plastic containers in the cargo bay of our Cessnas. The legality of doing so is questionable, however operationally it is a neccessity.
The company I sometimes rent from, strictly prohibits this. I'm unsure if this is in accordance to CAAP guidelines or company policy.
To be frank, if I was renting aircraft, I'd be unhappy if my clients flew with fuel in the cabin.
Best,
SSS
The company I sometimes rent from, strictly prohibits this. I'm unsure if this is in accordance to CAAP guidelines or company policy.
To be frank, if I was renting aircraft, I'd be unhappy if my clients flew with fuel in the cabin.
Best,
SSS
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Many on the BMAA site say it is legal provided the fuel is for use in the aircraft. I think there has even been official approval given on this basis for additional modifications to hold the cans.
Rod1
Rod1
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AFAIK, the only BMAA approved mod is for a removable, but plumbed-in (out-board engine) tank, secured on the back seat of a Quik flexwing.
I have seen flexwings at Blois with jerrycans strapped into their back seats, but I think they were French. Yes, they must have been, ...
I have seen flexwings at Blois with jerrycans strapped into their back seats, but I think they were French. Yes, they must have been, ...
At the risk of thread drift, let me tell you that the most dangerous cargo that I ever carried was a load of empty jerrycans.
The Army had been exercising in the Oman bundu and someone decided that the best way of getting the jerrycans back to Sharjah was to put six pallets of them in my Argosy.
The caps started blowing open not long after take-off from Ibri and I was very happy to throw the old girl on the ground at Sharjah. I kept thinking of the five inverters underneath the freight bay floor.
Jerrycans are generally fine as long as they are full but they are bloody dangerous when they are empty or nearly empty.
The Army had been exercising in the Oman bundu and someone decided that the best way of getting the jerrycans back to Sharjah was to put six pallets of them in my Argosy.
The caps started blowing open not long after take-off from Ibri and I was very happy to throw the old girl on the ground at Sharjah. I kept thinking of the five inverters underneath the freight bay floor.
Jerrycans are generally fine as long as they are full but they are bloody dangerous when they are empty or nearly empty.
Avoid imitations
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Fuel is classified as "Dangerous Goods". In general, it cannot legally be carried in (i.e. inside) a passenger aircraft.
CAP668 gives relevant info and can be downloaded as a .PDF file.
CAP668 gives relevant info and can be downloaded as a .PDF file.
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Can't help you with the legalities or practicalities of carrying fuel in cans in the cockpit, but I can point you to something else.
Eventually you'll want to get the fuel in the tanks. Usually this means messing about with a funnel and sloshing fuel into it. Which may cause spillige and is also pretty dangerous since a static charge may build up.
A few years ago I was at the HISWA (boat show) and somebody had a real neat solution for this. It was essentially a 1/2" hose with a very crude one-way valve on one end, arranged so that the fuel could enter the hose from that side, but not exit.
You simply place the fuel container at a point which is higher than the fuel tank (in an aircraft that would be on the wing), dip the one-way valve end into the container, and put the other end in the aircrafts tank. Shake the one-way-valve up and down a few times so that the fuel is lifted up into the hose, and hey presto, instant syphon. His demo 5 liter container drained in 10 seconds or so.
No spilled fuel, no need to suck on a hose, no sloshing and the container is actually in contact with the fuselage, so not a lot of chance for a static buildup.
I still wish I had bought one of those hoses right there and then.
Eventually you'll want to get the fuel in the tanks. Usually this means messing about with a funnel and sloshing fuel into it. Which may cause spillige and is also pretty dangerous since a static charge may build up.
A few years ago I was at the HISWA (boat show) and somebody had a real neat solution for this. It was essentially a 1/2" hose with a very crude one-way valve on one end, arranged so that the fuel could enter the hose from that side, but not exit.
You simply place the fuel container at a point which is higher than the fuel tank (in an aircraft that would be on the wing), dip the one-way valve end into the container, and put the other end in the aircrafts tank. Shake the one-way-valve up and down a few times so that the fuel is lifted up into the hose, and hey presto, instant syphon. His demo 5 liter container drained in 10 seconds or so.
No spilled fuel, no need to suck on a hose, no sloshing and the container is actually in contact with the fuselage, so not a lot of chance for a static buildup.
I still wish I had bought one of those hoses right there and then.
Are we seeing you on the 3rd? 
Is AVGAS or Mogas available?
Be sure that turbulence will not loosen the tie downs. Once there is some movement, jerking will stretch it more. No way will I carry a full jerrycan. I have carried an empty can, well secured, at low level. A full can will exert far more newtons in turbulence. In rough water, I've watched things loosen tie downs on a boat, where I could tighten them. A loose full jerrycan could wreck a light aircraft.
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JW411 has nailed the danger. Avgas in liquid form is not such a problem... it's the gaseous form (read fumes) that is the real danger. Ensure there is not the slightest possibility of leakage via puncturing, or leakage from the cap.
A cabin full of Avgas fumes is a bomb ready to go off at any incidence of a spark... let alone the extreme danger of breathing in the fumes.
Remember that volatile petroleum fuels also have a very high expansion and contraction rate with severe temperature fluctuations, which can create a danger of the container bursting, if no allowance for expansion is made.
Even steel jerrycans aren't immune to splitting and leaking under pressure. Keeping the containers upright is a good move, it helps keep pressure off the cap seal, and will help reduce spillage in the case of leakage from the cap.
A cabin full of Avgas fumes is a bomb ready to go off at any incidence of a spark... let alone the extreme danger of breathing in the fumes.
Remember that volatile petroleum fuels also have a very high expansion and contraction rate with severe temperature fluctuations, which can create a danger of the container bursting, if no allowance for expansion is made.
Even steel jerrycans aren't immune to splitting and leaking under pressure. Keeping the containers upright is a good move, it helps keep pressure off the cap seal, and will help reduce spillage in the case of leakage from the cap.