Sniffing Avgas now!!!
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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The simple fact is that the Petrol Sniffing Strategy of the Govt remains a half-cocked, badly-administered scheme, after having consumed possibly many hundreds of millions of dollars.
While the Govt subsidises the production and distribution of Opal fuel in Aboriginal Lands where petrol sniffing is prevalent, it does nothing to ensure the complete security of Avgas - and it relies on fuel suppliers and distributors to supply non-sniffable petrol via voluntary participation, not compulsory participation.
Both these factors are gaping holes in the PSS that need to be closed promptly. In 2013, the Low Aromatic Fuel Act was passed and received Royal Assent - which Act gives the reponsible Minister the power to designate a fuel control area, and to determine the requirements relating to the supply, transportation, possession and storage of (sniffable) fuels in those areas.
To date, the powers under that Act have never been used, and voluntary participation in ensuring only Low Aromatic Fuels are available in high-risk areas, is still the order of the day.
It's simply time to ensure that the intent of the Act is carried out - and that not only the distribution of LAF is made compulsory throughout Aboriginal Lands - but that intensive security arrangements are initiated, with regard to all sniffable forms of petrol.
Bottom line is, what is the potential damage to aircraft from petrol sniffers accessing aircraft fuel supplies - either in aircraft fuel tanks, or in drums?
Performance Audit - Petrol Sniffing Strategy - remote indigenous communities
While the Govt subsidises the production and distribution of Opal fuel in Aboriginal Lands where petrol sniffing is prevalent, it does nothing to ensure the complete security of Avgas - and it relies on fuel suppliers and distributors to supply non-sniffable petrol via voluntary participation, not compulsory participation.
Both these factors are gaping holes in the PSS that need to be closed promptly. In 2013, the Low Aromatic Fuel Act was passed and received Royal Assent - which Act gives the reponsible Minister the power to designate a fuel control area, and to determine the requirements relating to the supply, transportation, possession and storage of (sniffable) fuels in those areas.
To date, the powers under that Act have never been used, and voluntary participation in ensuring only Low Aromatic Fuels are available in high-risk areas, is still the order of the day.
It's simply time to ensure that the intent of the Act is carried out - and that not only the distribution of LAF is made compulsory throughout Aboriginal Lands - but that intensive security arrangements are initiated, with regard to all sniffable forms of petrol.
Bottom line is, what is the potential damage to aircraft from petrol sniffers accessing aircraft fuel supplies - either in aircraft fuel tanks, or in drums?
Performance Audit - Petrol Sniffing Strategy - remote indigenous communities
No need to do that. Locking fuel caps are available for Bonanzas - the FTDK had them!
Ickshnay on the druel frainsnay.
In the 90's many isolated communities removed ULP from the bowsers and only sold Avgas and Diesel. I assume that it was 100LL but I don't know that for sure. Petrol sniffing stopped almost overnight as the Avgas available didn't cause intoxication.
Around 2000, all leaded fuel was phased out from sale in Australia. If the main problem identified with the current round of sniffing is lead then this must not have applied to Avgas but either way, the Avgas supplied now must be different to that supplied 20 years ago. Go back to the old fuel and the problem is solved. GA in Australia is in such decline that the small amount of Avgas used is unlikely to impact the environment anyway, whatever it is.
Around 2000, all leaded fuel was phased out from sale in Australia. If the main problem identified with the current round of sniffing is lead then this must not have applied to Avgas but either way, the Avgas supplied now must be different to that supplied 20 years ago. Go back to the old fuel and the problem is solved. GA in Australia is in such decline that the small amount of Avgas used is unlikely to impact the environment anyway, whatever it is.
I realise the ULP changes to OPAL helped with petrol sniffing, but Avgas is not very aromatic either, so it must be just a bit more.
Aviation fuel sniffing in Arnhem Land sparks health emergency warning - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Can someone tell me how TEL is boiling off when its boiling point is 80dC? I can imagine the light ends being sniffable but that is about it.
I suspect the lead levels are from other sources, and this is misinformed scaremongering. I may be wrong.
It is the media too I suppose.
Aviation fuel sniffing in Arnhem Land sparks health emergency warning - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Can someone tell me how TEL is boiling off when its boiling point is 80dC? I can imagine the light ends being sniffable but that is about it.
I suspect the lead levels are from other sources, and this is misinformed scaremongering. I may be wrong.
It is the media too I suppose.
Maybe lack of parental/elder supervision/control might have something to do with the problem. Maybe withdrawal of all government funded air services might solve the problem also.
Last edited by On eyre; 16th May 2017 at 01:51. Reason: Error
Join Date: Nov 2004
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In the 90's many isolated communities removed ULP from the bowsers and only sold Avgas and Diesel. I assume that it was 100LL but I don't know that for sure. Petrol sniffing stopped almost overnight as the Avgas available didn't cause intoxication.
Around 2000, all leaded fuel was phased out from sale in Australia. If the main problem identified with the current round of sniffing is lead then this must not have applied to Avgas but either way, the Avgas supplied now must be different to that supplied 20 years ago. Go back to the old fuel and the problem is solved. GA in Australia is in such decline that the small amount of Avgas used is unlikely to impact the environment anyway, whatever it is.
Around 2000, all leaded fuel was phased out from sale in Australia. If the main problem identified with the current round of sniffing is lead then this must not have applied to Avgas but either way, the Avgas supplied now must be different to that supplied 20 years ago. Go back to the old fuel and the problem is solved. GA in Australia is in such decline that the small amount of Avgas used is unlikely to impact the environment anyway, whatever it is.
In mid-2004 BP Australia, producer of Avgas, announced its intention to change the formula for Avgas fuel by reducing the lead content and increasing the level of aromatic hydrocarbons.
The new fuel would be environmentally friendly - but no longer unsniffable. At around the same time, BP also began work on a potential replacement for Avgas in Aboriginal communities by producing a new vehicle fuel containing no lead and very low levels of the aromatic chemicals that give other forms of petrol their intoxicating properties.
The new fuel, known as Opal, was launched in February 2005 (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2007).
Like Avgas, Opal was subject to a Commonwealth subsidy. However, whereas the original subsidy had been paid to distributors, under the new version a subsidy of around 33 cents per litre was paid to BP Australia in recognition of the higher production costs of Opal fuel.
The new fuel would be environmentally friendly - but no longer unsniffable. At around the same time, BP also began work on a potential replacement for Avgas in Aboriginal communities by producing a new vehicle fuel containing no lead and very low levels of the aromatic chemicals that give other forms of petrol their intoxicating properties.
The new fuel, known as Opal, was launched in February 2005 (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2007).
Like Avgas, Opal was subject to a Commonwealth subsidy. However, whereas the original subsidy had been paid to distributors, under the new version a subsidy of around 33 cents per litre was paid to BP Australia in recognition of the higher production costs of Opal fuel.
Petrol Sniffing Interventions
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A common solution is to leave a 600ml bottle left next to the aircraft already filled.
But let's not forget the majority of these airports run by the all mighty and hard done by aboriginal corporations are charging obscene amounts for not only the avgas but also landing fees whilst not upgrading any infrastructure off their own back.
Most of the gate codes for these places are saved in my phone as "kick firmly with a size 12 RM"
Pay peanuts, get monkeys etc
But let's not forget the majority of these airports run by the all mighty and hard done by aboriginal corporations are charging obscene amounts for not only the avgas but also landing fees whilst not upgrading any infrastructure off their own back.
Most of the gate codes for these places are saved in my phone as "kick firmly with a size 12 RM"
Pay peanuts, get monkeys etc
