Energy Institute seeks industry feedback on draft aviation fuel handling standard

26 October 2012 – The Energy Institute (EI) and the Joint Inspection Group (JIG) are working together to prepare a new standard for the aviation fuel refining, storage and distribution industry. A final draft is now available for review and the EI calls for industry stakeholders to feedback on its technical content before 4 January 2013.

EI/JIG 1530 is intended to provide a standard to assist in the maintenance of aviation fuel quality, from its point of manufacture through distribution systems to airports. It provides mandatory provisions and good practice recommendations for storage design features and handling procedures, additives used in aviation fuels, facilities and procedures for transportation, and synthetic jet fuel blends.

The need for the management of aviation fuel quality throughout the supply chain has been recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and EI/JIG 1530 is referenced in ICAO’s Manual on civil aviation jet fuel supply to the civil aviation authorities, distributed to its 191 member states.

The overriding philosophy implicit in EI/JIG 1530 is that, at each step in the fuel’s journey, from refinery to airport, all the parties involved, from production to storage and handling, have a shared responsibility for maintaining the quality and cleanliness of the fuel. The requirements and recommendations detailed in EI/JIG 1530 expand on JIG Standard 3 Aviation fuel quality control and operating procedures for supply and distribution facilities.

EI/JIG 1530 is intended for adoption worldwide, by organisations involved in the refining, storage and handling of aviation fuel upstream of airports. This includes those organisations responsible for the design, construction, operation, inspection and maintenance of refineries, pipelines, marine vessels, coastal/inland waterway barges, road tankers, rail tank cars or storage installations, and aviation fuel testing laboratories and inspection companies.

Martin Hunnybun MEI, Technical Team Manager – Fuels and Fuels Handling, Energy Institute, says, ‘Work began on this standard in early 2011 and its need was emphasised by ICAO in the drafting of their jet fuel manual. This comprehensive document has been compiled by fuel quality specialists from the EI and JIG with support from the EI’s technical partners. The feedback process is fundamentally important to ensure the standard is of the highest relevance and contributes to the maintenance of aviation fuel quality throughout potentially complex supply chains, and we are very grateful to those who are able to engage with this project.’

As mentioned earlier, the deadline for receipt of comments on the draft EI/JIG 1530 is 4 January 2013. Feedback should be sent for the attention of Martin Hunnybun, EI Technical Team Manager – Fuels and Fuels Handling, e: [email protected]