Fuel trucks!!! why do we need them?

[genius-747]

<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Can anybody shed any light on this subject.
When an aircraft lands and a major international airport.. say LHR, it must wait for a fuel truck to drive up alongside the a/c to refuel it. This is extremely costly obvsouly..
examples of costing:
*maintance of fuel truck
*fuel to operate truck
*wages for several necessary personel
*ware and tare to ramp and service paths in airport

plus the fact that it adds to traffic on the ramp which in turn is a hazard to both other aircraft,personell,and vehicles.


My point is why is there not fuel pipes run to all the aircraft parking stands? Its simple and it is done for the ground power!! you dont see mobil generators pulling up becide a/c on the stands.. so why have fuel trucks doing it??

IS THERE ANY REASON(S) WHY THIS CANNOT BE DONE?

THE COST SAVING WOULD BE HUGH!!!

[Muppit]

As far as I'm aware, the fuel IS pumped directly to the stands. All the truck does is act as the pump.

As stands are designed to take everything from a DH8 to a B744, there is no easy way to align the underground fuel valve and the wing tank.

Some stands aren't serviced directly, and yes they do need a proper tanker, but taking into account drilling, tunnelling, health and safety and stand design with proposed hard standing pumps, individual tankers and pumps are probably the most cost effective means.

Just a thought..!

[ 08 January 2002: Message edited by: Muppit ]</p>

[Knold]

I agree with Muppit, thats's how it ususally is.
I was down to the Canarias this weekend and they all had it too.

[ 09 January 2002: Message edited by: Knold ]</p>

[PAXboy]

All new airports and refurbishments of aprons, have underground piped delivery.

The 'fuel truck' looks like a fuel truck as it has a tank but this is a holding tank to allow for varying pressures between the underground delivery pipe and the truck's own pumps to the a/c.

Typically a pump-truck will only handle one type of fuel.
If you watch them at work, you will see them open the access cover to the pipe network and connect to it. They also connect earthing cables to the feed pipe and the a/c, for obvious reasons.

This method of pump-truck has been devised and agreed around the world, so we may presume that it is considered cost effective and reasonable by many people.

The problem is for older airports. The cost of installing underground pipes is prohibitive and likely to remain so.

[GlueBall]

The only way to eliminate the "pump-truck" would be to pressurize the underground pipes, but then you'd still need a person with a tall ladder and a hose to connect the wing with the ground receptacle.

[DVR6K]

Solution:

Let´s build aircraft with wings no higher than 5ft off the ground, easy!!

hehe.

Long live the fuel truck, may it pump for eternity.