Scrivenger .. actually, its worse than you think!
It is true that the AAIB report that 'little is known' about ice crystals in fuel at temperatures below 18C (0F) - see my post 1725,page 87.
Its worse because the AAIB don't mention the overall operating environment, just temperature and not pressure, vibration, fluid circulation etc..
This is not meant to imply any wrongdoing on the part of the AAIB. Actually, I suspect that if you were to have a private conversation with the AAIB report writers the air would turn blue if you asked them to describe the industry's fuel standards. I wonder when the AAIB realised that 'the standard' has a huge whole in it.
But, has the industry simply lost or forgotten the knowledge that may have been gained from tests/experiments etc. conducted decades ago?
Some older crew have already posted here .... can anyone shed light on fuel tests back in the '50s and '60s that lead to the development of the fuel standards?
Regards, Tanimbar