Viva Energy buys SkyFuel, drops AirBP cards

[KRviator]

So I got an email tonight basically saying Viva Energy has brought out SkyFuel, and WEF 01 July, all AirBP cards will be cancelled. If you want one, you'll need to go through AirBP directly". Which was kinda the problem - AirBP won't, or at least, doesn't want to deal with us plebs directly, hence the SkyFuel arrangement, which I always thought was the ducks nuts for private fliers.

Thanks to the staff at SkyFuel (And I'm not making a sarcastic swipe here!) for their support and letting me get fuel pretty much anywhere I needed it, just a shame your new owners don't want to deal with AirBP to benefit GA. But I guess we should be used to that in Oz, right?

Anyone have an alternative to the AirBP cards for their bowners that won't accept credit cards and AirBP won't allow you to open an account?

[Egipps]

Try Steve Johnson, really helpful guy. We don't use BP a lot, but some places we go it is the only option available. Steve can be contacted via email [email protected]

[Sunfish]

So, unless arrangements are made, private pilots are excluded from buying fuel from BP bowsers. Nice. I guess I’ll return the favor.

[Alice Kiwican]

So, unless arrangements are made, private pilots are excluded from buying fuel from BP bowsers. Nice. I guess I’ll return the favor.

Not ideal but don’t BP bowsers also take credit cards?

[Lead Balloon]

No they don't. That's because AirBP are a bunch of f*cktards.

The only place I now fly to get AirBP fuel is YSWH, because there are a bunch of friendly locals at the Aero Club who run the bowser. (I usually phone ahead to confirm that someone will be there.)

[Squawk7700]

Not ideal but don’t BP bowsers also take credit cards?

No…. and that’s the issue here:

[markis10]

just a shame your new owners don't want to deal with AirBP to benefit GA. But I guess we should be used to that in Oz, right?

Anyone have an alternative to the AirBP cards for their bowners that won't accept credit cards and AirBP won't allow you to open an account?

1. AirBP have a new product that you can apply for, the sterling card if your a business
2. Viva are a competitor as the owner of the last remaining refinery in Australia

[KRviator]

1. AirBP have a new product that you can apply for, the sterling card if your a businessAnd if you're not, BP don't want a bar of you! Hence why the SkyFuel arrangement was great for those of us who aren't a business, but still own an airplane. So there goes trips via Broken Hill, or up to Caloundra, Moree is BP-card-only, so is Longreach, and a host more besides. What ae private fliers expected to do at these locations? And on that note, now BP have pissed me off, I'm going to go through the ERSA and map out every airport in OZ that is AirBP only and add it to the thread so pilots can plan around them.

2. Viva are a competitor as the owner of the last remaining refinery in AustraliaI know. But, all they've done now is screw over their customers. Yes they've bought the SkyFuel business and infrastructure, however Viva - and BP - were still getting paid by SkyFuel before Viva brought them out and scrapped the BP cards. A corollary would be QF denying you a ticket to Tamworth, just because you flew Brisbane-Sydney on Virgin (their competitor) - nevermind that Virgin don't serve that city pair. So how do you get to Tamworth? (And yes, I know bus/train/hire a car etc, but that's also what pilots will need to do if they can't get BP cards!)

[markis10]

I know. But, all they've done now is screw over their customers. Yes they've bought the SkyFuel business and infrastructure, however Viva - and BP - were still getting paid by SkyFuel before Viva brought them out and scrapped the BP cards. A corollary would be QF denying you a ticket to Tamworth, just because you flew Brisbane-Sydney on Virgin (their competitor) - nevermind that Virgin don't serve that city pair. So how do you get to Tamworth? (And yes, I know bus/train/hire a car etc, but that's also what pilots will need to do if they can't get BP cards!)

Poor corollary given that’s exactly what happens, you cant buy a seat on Virgin using QF Ticket stock

[KRviator]

Poor corollary given that’s exactly what happens, you cant buy a seat on Virgin using QF Ticket stockNot really...I never said booking a ticket on Virgin from QF, but simply flying from BNE-SYD VA and having QF refuse to fly you to TMW... My previous employer's travel agents routinely booked SYD-PER on VA then PER-KTA on QF and QF was more than happy to take the company's $$ even though we flew to PER on their competitor...Here it seems Viva aren't interested in supplying AirBP cards even though they don't serve that airport - to the detriment of GA pilots.

But you also didn't address the point regarding the Sterling card - how do those of us who aren't a business get one? Short answer is "We can't!"

And because we can't get 24H access to the AirBP bowsers without one, here's a quick-and-dirty map where AirBP appears to be the sole supplier of Avgas. There's a couple of entries (Mt Isa, for eg) that list a second POL supplier, but that second entry doesn't mention Avgas, so don't take it as gospel - and some airports have staff onsite during office hours (Maitland for eg) that could probably accept a CC payment, but the ERSA entry isn't explicit in that, often just saying "H24 Cardswipe bowser" so it isn't to say "you positively cannot get fuel here without a BP Carnet" but a guide that you may not be able to as there isn't anyone else to call...
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/540x540/map_81afbb4f22e86552e8787fea24cc6b2c8e3fc049.gif

[coljones]

YBTH also has an Aero Refuellers bowser that take V or M. The BP entry is a bit strange as, at the end, it suggests Carnet, V, Mc or cheque

[KRviator]

YBTH also has an Aero Refuellers bowser that take V or M. The BP entry is a bit strange as, at the end, it suggests Carnet, V, Mc or chequeIt does indeed - an error on my part there. Map's updated to removed Bathurst.

If there's any other updates someone spots, let me know and I'll tweak the map again.

[Jenna Talia]

It appears that only SkyFuel issued AirBP card holders are affected. If you already have an AirBP card direct from AirBP then you are not affected. I have a card direct from AirBP and I am an individual, not a business. They simply debit my chosen bank account following fuel purchase.

I’m not defending AirBP, just letting you all know the facts.

See the below link:

https://mailchi.mp/82907e5f66a7/viva-energy-australia-acquires-skyfuel-australia?e=f93d27dca9

[Lead Balloon]

KR: It would be nice to somehow indicate that the friendly folk at the YSWH Aero Club will operate the bowser, with the courtesy of some notice from visitors.

(And let's all not forget: The only reason AirBP won't install bowsers which accept credit cards is that AirBP is run by f*cktards.)

[KRviator]

KR: It would be nice to somehow indicate that the friendly folk at the YSWH Aero Club will operate the bowser, with the courtesy of some notice from visitors.I agree, LB, but using GCMap there isn't really an option to have either notes, or colour-coded tags for each airport. I certainly don't want to discourage visitors from going to places like Swan Hill or others that are helpful towards visiting pilots - even if they do have an AirBP bowser!

Give me a day or two and I'll re-do the map in Google Earth and use coloured icons that can be changed based on reports from the field for such things as "Can get friendly assistance if needed" or "We rocked up as a flight of 3 and the thieving bastards tried to charge us 3 callout fees".

I have a card direct from AirBP and I am an individual, not a business. They simply debit my chosen bank account following fuel purchase.They aren't prepared to do that any more, and from my recollection haven't been for many years. I've used SkyFuel for about 7 years for precisely that reason. One of the other posters over on the RecFlying forums tried to get one a few days ago and this was the reply:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x749/img_5596_jpeg_e59583b6762a29b8fd7e60edf7bc09ae_jpeg_bdd6632a ac5c08e69d6051101f4338720e23c071.jpg

[thunderbird five]

I'm actually amazed that people will blindly believe that BP avgas will be not available at all to aviators.
"I read it on the internet! It must be true!" Good grief Charlie Brown.

https://www.skyfuel.com.au/aviation-fuel-cards/

[Lead Balloon]

I'm actually amazed that people can't read the start of the thread in which they post. And this is from the 'headline article' in the banner on the homepage of the Skyfuel website:Yes. Our longstanding relationship with Air BP is changing. This will impact customers with Skyfuel Australia issued Air BP cards. It is very important that our existing Air BP card holders read and understand the following.

Effective 30th June 2023, regardless of what expiry date is printed on the card, all Skyfuel Australia issued Air BP cards will be cancelled. From 30th June 2023 a Skyfuel issued BP card will not be accepted at any Air BP location.

If you require a new Air BP card you will need to contact Air BP directly and open a new account. Your Skyfuel Australia Air BP card will not work after 30th June 2023.

[KRviator]

I'm actually amazed that people will blindly believe that BP avgas will be not available at all to aviators.
"I read it on the internet! It must be true!" Good grief Charlie Brown.

https://www.skyfuel.com.au/aviation-fuel-cards/Where are we wrong? Right now, I have a SkyFuel-supplied AirBP card. Come July, said card will not work and furthermore AirBP will not allow me to open an account in my name as I am an individual - not a business. So if I want to do a flight down to Maitland in the evening how do I get fuel from their bowser that only accepts AirBP cards? How can I plan a tech stop at Broken Hill enroute to SA unless I ensure I arrive at a time when the BP rep is onsite to swipe his card?

How does anyone who is not a business now get fuel from an AirBP bowser, without someone being onsite to operate it for them - and if AH perhaps stinging them for callout fees to boot? Rather than trying to come up with a sarcastic reply, perhaps you could educate those of us who are going to be screwed over by AirBP's decision to refuse a carnet card now SkyFuel has moved on from that market?

[uncle8]

Ballarat is another one. The ERSA entry is a bit hard to understand but I believe that it means BP carnet useable H24, credit card can only be used 2300-0730 and you have to use callout, $40 fee. The callout man brings the eftpos machine.
Also, if the aero club is manned, they can help with credit card.

[Sunfish]

Judging by the Viva fuel2sky carnet application, they don't want private individual accounts either.

Flying in Australia is just getting too hard and risky...

[Lead Balloon]

I don't think it's that dramatic, Sunfish. I think it's more that the f*cktards running AirBP don't want to or know how to arrange installation of bowsers which accept credit cards.

I reckon the biggest favour AirBP could do for GA in Australia is to pull their bowsers out of wherever they happen to be installed, so that sensible businesses can install some 21st century fuel-delivery technology of the kind that exists at every other location.

[Sunfish]

I have to agree LB.

This issue HAS to be fixed because it has a real operational downside that increases the cost of private air travel in that aircraft needing to transit these locations are either going to lose payload because they have to tanker fuel, make time consuming detours, or suffer reduced fuel safety margins beyond statutory minimums.

In the meantime some can resort to jerrycans and unleaded petrol, but after the inevitable refueling accidents and spills, I expect most airports will ban that practice if they haven't already.

[megan]

Perhaps they're in cahoots with CASA to get rid of GA.

[MagnumPI]

I'll preface this comment by saying I used to spend many hundreds of thousands of dollars a year with BP for Castrol lubricants. I'm fully aware, first-hand, of how inept BP can be - especially their offshore finance team.

I'd suggest that an individual could apply for a sole trader ABN at no cost, put that on the AirBP application, and probably slide the application through. After all, you do run a business...Vanderlay Industries, was it? I doubt they're asking for P&L statements or anything for a small credit limit.

Yes, they're a bunch of idiots who are clearly out of touch with their customers in general aviation - but what did you expect from a huge company, anyway...

[megan]

but what did you expect from a huge company, anyway...Reminds me of the time one of our pilots applied for an AMEX card, AMEX rang the head office of the big, big oil company to confirm his employment and mentioned he was one of the company pilots, company doesn't have pilots or aircraft AMEX was told, despite some 20 pilots and 10 aircraft, AMEX finally got onto the crewroom phone and his bona fides confirmed. AMEX in the mail.

[Aerodynamicer]

IOL now has an avgas bowser in Broken Hill.

per notamHANDLING SERVICES AND FACILITIES AMD
AMD TO READ:
1. AIR BP: JET A1 MON-FRI 0800-1700 LOCAL. AH BY ARRANGEMENT. AVGAS
SELF SERVE. BP CARD FACILITY. PHONE 0408 728 605 H24.
2. IOR AVIATION PTY LTD: JET A1 AND AVGAS 100LL AVBL H24 SELF-SERVE
BOWSER - PAYMENT METHOD VIA IOR AVIATION TAG FOR ACCOUNT HOLDERS OR
VIA THE FUEL CHARGE APP.
JET A1 U/W AND O/W (REFUELLER VEHICLE) 0700-1600HRS M-F 0800-1600
WEEKENDS. A/H CALL OUT FEE APPLIES. IOR MOBILE PHONE CONTACT 0460 046
609 OR 1300 457 467
AMD ENR SUP AUSTRALIA (ERSA)
FROM 03 122015 TO PERM

[megle2]

Fuel Card App, that’s new to me, does it work ok

[Jenna Talia]

Fuel Card App, that’s new to me, does it work ok

Yes it does.

But it requires you to have a smart phone or tablet to install then use the app. Then you need the cellular network signal and hope to hell you haven't misplaced your phone or tablet or your battery hasn't been drained of its power.

[BronteExperimental]

Yes it does.

But it requires you to have a smart phone or tablet to install then use the app. Then you need the cellular network signal and hope to hell you haven't misplaced your phone or tablet or your battery hasn't been drained of its power.

Given that they are without fail installed where there is “cellular network signal”…
If you haven’t got the other bits covered then you probably should be reevaluating whether you should be PIC.
It’s a thoroughly reliable modern solution to a simple problem - where available.
Every pilot should be familiar with it.

[Lead Balloon]

Given that they are “without fail” installed where there is a cellular network signal, the bowsers can be credit card enabled and therefore do the usual confirmation of a pre-authorised amount for the fuel being purchased so that the f*cktards in AirBP don’t have to worry their pretty little heads about risk. No new carnet card application bull****. No new app bull****. Just 1990s complexity commerce sorted in the 1990s.

[First_Principal]

....Just 1990s complexity commerce sorted in the 1990s.

Or better still, for those of us without 'smart' telephones, and who have never believed in credit, let's enable some real universal tech:


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/186x383/screenshot_2023_05_09_09_50_26_a53dc145f8bee466bff4140975621 4d2f2116620.png

[Going Nowhere]

Given that they are “without fail” installed where there is a cellular network signal, the bowsers can be credit card enabled and therefore do the usual confirmation of a pre-authorised amount for the fuel being purchased so that the f*cktards in AirBP don’t have to worry their pretty little heads about risk. No new carnet card application bull****. No new app bull****. Just 1990s complexity commerce sorted in the 1990s.

without knowing the specifics, wouldn’t a land line be sufficient to operate the card reader? If so, then it’s quite possible to have a card reader somewhere beyond mobile coverage.

[Lead Balloon]

Of course it's possible. And AirBP's competitors achieved the credit card-enabled outcome - one way or the other - many years ago.

Don't overthink this. It's just the product of AirBP being run by f*cktards, plain and simple.

[Johnson refuelling]

I can help with Air Bp cards guys.If you require ,drop me an email [email protected]
cheers

[22N114E]

Grateful thanks to the President of the RV Aircraft Australia who personally negotiated a solution to the Air BP problem for all GA pilots in Australia! Furthermore, a 5c/L discount was obtained.

RVAA emails and SAAA emails have already gone to members.

[Cloudee]

Grateful thanks to the President of the RV Aircraft Australia who personally negotiated a solution to the Air BP problem for all GA pilots in Australia! Furthermore, a 5c/L discount was obtained.

RVAA emails and SAAA emails have already gone to members.
Give us a hint. What is the solution.

[22N114E]

Lowes Air

[KRviator]

Give us a hint. What is the solution.If you're a financial member of the SAAA, you can apply (has to be via the SAAA website) through Lowes Air for an AirBP card. Sounds like what Skyfuel (was) and Steve Johnson (is :ok:) offering, but with the added bonus of a 5cpl discount carrying over.

Following the announcement of Skyfuel being acquired, we are pleased to announce that Lowes Air has joined with SAAA to offer SAAA Financial Members who currently hold a Skyfuel Air BP Card to apply for a Lowes Air card, irrespective if you hold an ABN or not.

Did you know that if you join the Lowes Air Fuel card program, you will still be using bp’s trusted fuel network, whilst still receiving your SAAA membership benefit of 5 cents per litre discount at the pump?

Whilst there are some big changes occurring in the aviation fuel card business, we are excited to introduce Lowes Air to SAAA members – Their bulk delivery logistics cover New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and Queensland and are backed by almost 50 years of history in Lowes Petroleum. No matter what state you are in, their Aviation card is nationally available through the airbp network.

All the details about Lowes Air and how to apply for their card are here.

Please note to be eligible for the 5 cents per litre discount, you must initiate an application via the SAAA website by logging into your membership and clicking here (https://saaa.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=516761eb610836f62c3baac51&id=da12a79e2d&e=57c23dbe8c) and complete the declaration. You will receive an email notification and the link to apply for a Lowes Air card will be detailed.

We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to SAAA Member Alan Carlisle OAM, for the introduction to Lowes Air.

[Johnson refuelling]

If you're a financial member of the SAAA, you can apply (has to be via the SAAA website) through Lowes Air for an AirBP card. Sounds like what Skyfuel (was) and Steve Johnson (is :ok:) offering, but with the added bonus of a 5cpl discount carrying over.
All I can forward is posted airfield price after 23 years with bp.It is frustrating to see a new supplier come in and have the backing of bp but that is big business I guess.If you still want an air bp card with a small business who values you,contact us [email protected]

[Lead Balloon]

Another process requiring the equivalent of an application for a credit card, involving the disclosure of a whole bunch of important identity and financial details, and a copy of the physical signature of the applicant. I've already done that for the credit cards I have which are accepted by AirBP's competitors. Did I mention that AirBP is run by a bunch of f*cktards?