Refueling with Passengers onboard- cockpit crew availability ?

[1jz]

Would like to have any legal document reference or what Is the procedure in your company regarding refueling with PAx on board. Is it necessary to have cockpit crew on their stations or an engineer in the cockpit would suffice for the requirement?

[INeedTheFull90]

It would depend on where you are and what the airline policy is. I should imagine it is commonplace to have a competent person in the flight deck or on the ground supervising fuelling. Additionally the refuelling zone should be kept clear, seatbelts signs off, crew and pax aware, exits clear where there is no air bridge or steps attached to said door, and during disembarkation electronic devices should be restricted when walking to the terminal from the aircraft if the route goes near the refuelling zone. Some countries and airports don't allow it. Any airport specific procedures will be listed in the aip or company manual/airfield briefs. I hope this helps.

[+TSRA]

Hi 1jz,

Here in Canada the references are given by CAR 705.40 and its applicable standard 725.40. That's for the airline side, although the Commuter Regs are identical. You must be approved by Transport Canada to refuel with passengers on board.

In our COM we have a whack of different considerations when fuelling with passengers on board, but the big ones are that at least one crew member (pilot or flight attendant) must be on board, the main cabin door must be unlocked and open during the summer or unlocked and cracked open during the winter, there must be direct communication with the refueller (with is considered either via a headset or by hand signals through a window), the passengers must be seated or in the process of being seated and must not have any headphones on. The seatbelt sign shall be off and any emergency exits that take passengers away from the refuelling side shall be armed (if applicable).

At no point, however, does it state that the crew member must be in the flight deck. The intention of having the crew member on board with passengers during refuelling is to initiate and manage any evacuation should one be required, not to monitor the fuel load. At least, that is our rationale.

[1jz]

+TSRA thanks alot. Actually my company moreover follows JAR ops or FARS as it operates to Europe and USA. Would appreciate other references too.

[de facto]

So have a look at easa and Faa rules then,not that complicated:hmm:

[1jz]

De facto. Thanks alot. I ve already gone through these but, wanted to see how companies / airlines materialize the written law.