European Refuelling Requirements

[sinala1]

Hiya Folks

I was hoping anyone from a European based airline could tell me the requirements imposed upon Cabin Crew during refuelling? In Australia, they include things such as (this is not an exhaustive list) Informing pax that refuelling is taking place, ensuring there is no use of any electronic equipment (particularly mobile phones), no smoking etc..

I flew recently with a european airline and it was deplorably bad to say the least, but before I write to the airline concerned I would like to have hard evidence to back up my complaints. Can anyone tell me what the name of the European Aviation safety organisation is called, and their official website? Or, where I could find the information I am looking for?

Cheers folks, muchly appreciated.

[TheOddOne]

You could make a start with this recently revised document from the UK CAA. It now seems to place more emphasis on operators carrying out their own risk assessments and putting procedures in place accordingly. I'd say that refuellings at our airport during passenger embarkation are quite the norm. VERY occasionally an operator will ask for the Fire Service to attend, but most depend upon Flight Attendant presence.

CAP 748 - Aircraft Fuelling etc

You could try a search on JAA. The recently formed European Aviation Safety Agency don't seem to have gotten around to this one, yet.

Cheers,
The Odd One

[flapsforty]

Joint Aviation Authorities

Rushed for time now Sinala, but happy to give you our rules later if someone else hasn't already by that time.

[sinala1]

Thanks Flaps and TheOddOne for your replies, I am going to research through that as much as I can, but also Flaps when you get time (I know you are a busy girl!) if you could post them for me it would be appreciated. I am also wondering what regulations apply regarding having Marshalls directing pax into the terminal when parked at a stand off bay?

I will go through the flight a bit now. We boarded the aircraft at a french airport, and myself and my friend I was travelling with noticed the refuelling truck located next to the aircraft, refuelling it. As we boarded, I noticed that the galley entry light was off, the window lights were off, and the ceiling lights were on dim. (In Australia, during refuelling, ALL lights must be on bright).

The seatbelt sign was turned off, but not once were we told to be seated but leave our seatbelts undone (another Australian requirement). We were not informed that refuelling was taking place (again an aussie requirement), we were not told to turn mobile phones off, we were not told there was to be no smoking, and we were not told that electronic devices must be switched off, (again, these are all aussie requirements).

Upon arrival at our italian destination, we disembarked at a somewhat remote standoff bay, in an area where all you could see in front of you was sound and jetblast barriers protecting the terminal. There was no one marshalling us across a road that bordered the airport terminal building, and no one marshalling us to the entrance to the terminal (which was around a corner from where we were).

Any thoughts or suggestions of requirements that exist in Europe that I can mention to the airline in my letter?

Thanks again folks, its muchly appreciated!

[flapsforty]

Sinala, don't have my manuals to hand here, so going from memory & day to day practice.

Some European airports allow fuelling with pax aboard; many don't.
In our mob, fuelling with pax aboard carries the following requirement:
Captain(on outstations) or Team Leader Turnaround (at home base, via walkie talkie) informs Purser that fuelling is taking place. Purser does fueling speech via PAs which goes something like this L & Gs, the AC is now being refuelled. Please take your seats, with your seat belt OPEN. Do not smoke, keep the aisles and exits clear of handluggage and strictly follow any instructions from the cabin crew.

I'd say that the question of mnarshallers guiding the pax is probably a local requirement; perhaps Flyblue knows what the Italian law requires in this matter.

With us, we have to make sure that pax can not get into any danger areas when they disembark onto the apron. We usually put an FA at the bottom of both stairs when this hapens. But last week in Glasgow for example, we coudn't. UK requires High Viz vests to be worn, and we don't carry any. So ground staff then takes over the marshalling of the pax.

Hope this helps a bit at least.

[boyo25]

At BA, the rules were recently changed regarding mobile phones whilst refuelling - passengers are allowed to use them if they wish. Apparently the CAA believes that fuel vapour ignition caused by usage of mobile phones is unlikely when passengers are onboard.

Apart from that, passengers must be instructed to keep their seatbelts unfastened, interior lighting must be sufficient for locating emergency exits, and at least one cabin crew constantly at their door area should a rapid evacuation is needed. Of course, smoking is never permitted on the aircraft so these signs will remain on regardless of refuelling.

Hope this helps !

[sinala1]

Further to our discussion regarding refuelling requirements, I have come across these:

Appendix 1 to JAR-OPS 1.305
Refuelling/defuelling with passengers
embarking, on board or disembarking

(a) An operator must establish operational procedures for re/defuelling with passengers embarking, on board or disembarking to ensure the following precautions are taken:

1) One qualified person must remain at a specified location during fuelling operations with passengers on board. This qualified person must be capable of handling emergency procedures concerning fire protection and fire-fighting,
handling communications and initiating and directing an evacuation;

(2) [A two-way communication shall be established and shall remain available by the aeroplane’s inter-communication system or other suitable means between the ground crew
supervising the refuelling and the qualified personnel on board the aeroplane;]

([3]) Crew, staff and passengers must be warned that re/defuelling will take place;

([4]) ‘Fasten Seat Belts’ signs must be off;

([5]) ‘NO SMOKING’ signs must be on, together with interior lighting to enable emergency exits to be identified;

([6]) Passengers must be instructed to unfasten their seat belts and refrain from smoking;

([7]) Sufficient qualified personnel must be on board and be prepared for an immediate emergency evacuation;

([8]) If the presence of fuel vapour is detected inside the aeroplane, or any other hazard arises during re/defuelling, fuelling must be stopped immediately;

([9]) The ground area beneath the exits intended for emergency evacuation and slide deployment areas must be kept clear; and

([10]) Provision is made for a safe and rapid evacuation.

[Amdt. 7, 01.09.04]
01.09.04 1-D-16 Amendment 7


Cheers everyone for your input to this discussion! I will let you know the out come of my complaint