Aircraft defueling

[leonard17F]

Hello fellow PPruners,

I am interested in having your inputs regarding defueling on a FAR23 aircraft (i.e. NOT a bizjet, and also not single-point refueling/defueling capable).

1) How often does it occur, other than for maintenance ? i.e. reconfiguration of a mission where you do not want to ferry extra fuel....
2) In case this DOES happen, what means do you usually use ? (again, NO single point); what is the approx. defueling speed/rate ?

Thanks a lot, as always !

Leo

[Miles Magister]

As said above, your question is too general for a detailed answer but;

Depending on the size and type of the aircraft it might have a defueling procedure in the maintenance manual, look this up and you might need an engineer to sign off the procedure. If no set procedure you need an engineer to disconnect a fuel line and drain via the normal fuel system. Fuel must either be discarded or put back into the same aircraft it came out of. There are fuel handling and storage regulations. You need to take note of these, your question is again a bit too general for a specific answer on this as well but consult your fuel supplier for details.

MM