This guide explains the main types of aircraft refueling and the equipment behind each one. How jet fuel and AvGas get from the fuel farm into the aircraft: the main refueling methods, overwing and underwing fueling, fuel grades, quality control and how to choose the right equipment.
Aviation fuel is filtered and checked every time it moves. A typical airport supply chain has four stages:
Fuel arrives from the refinery by pipeline, rail, truck or ship and is filtered as it enters the airport fuel farm.
Fuel settles in tanks so water and sediment drop to the sump. Floating suctions draw product from near the surface.
Fuel is filtered again on the way out to the hydrant system or when loading refueler trucks.
A final filtration stage on the refueler, hydrant dispenser or cabinet delivers clean, dry fuel to the aircraft.
Related equipment: jet fuel filtration vessels, floating suctions and relaxation tanks.
How aviation fuel moves from supply to the aircraft, with quality checks at every hand-off.
Airports and operators combine these methods based on traffic, aircraft size and site layout.
A truck with its own tank, pump, filtration, metering and hose reels drives to the aircraft. Flexible and used at airports without hydrants, on remote stands, and for general and business aviation.
Best for: airports without hydrants, mixed fleets, remote stands
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Fuel is pumped from the fuel farm through underground pipelines to hydrant pits at each stand. A hydrant dispenser (servicer) connects the pit to the aircraft, filtering and metering fuel without carrying a tank.
Best for: large airports with high traffic and wide-body aircraft
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A fixed fueling station with pump, filtration, meter and hose reel. Aircraft taxi or are towed to it. Common at FBOs, flight schools, heliports and self-serve fuel sites.
Best for: FBOs, general aviation, helicopters, self-serve
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A towable tank with pump, filtration and metering. A compact, lower-cost option for small airfields, maintenance hangars and operations with modest fuel volumes.
Best for: small airfields, hangars, low-volume operations
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A skid-mounted dispensing or filtration package installed at a fuel farm, helipad or remote site. Built as one unit for faster installation where a full fuel system is not practical.
Best for: remote sites, heliports, fuel farm dispensing
View equipment →Aircraft accept fuel in one of two ways, and the equipment has to match.
A nozzle is placed into an open filler cap on top of the wing, much like filling a car. Used on piston aircraft, many turboprops and helicopters, and for AvGas. Flow rates are lower and the operator controls the fill visually.
A pressure coupling connects to a single-point receptacle under the wing, and fuel is pumped in under controlled pressure. Used on airliners and most business jets. Delivery pressure at the aircraft is limited, typically to about 50 psi (3.5 bar).
Defueling is the reverse: removing fuel from the aircraft for maintenance, weight changes or contamination checks. Refuelers and hydrant equipment can be configured with defueling capability.
Each grade is handled in dedicated, clearly marked equipment so fuels are never mixed.
Kerosene-type turbine fuel used mainly in North America. Maximum freezing point −40 °C.
The international kerosene-type turbine fuel. Maximum freezing point −47 °C, which suits long-haul and cold-weather flying.
Kerosene-type fuels with military additive packages. Filtration equipment for military service is qualified to its own categories.
Leaded aviation gasoline for piston-engine aircraft, dyed blue for identification. Never to be mixed with jet fuel.
Renewable jet fuel blended with conventional jet fuel (up to 50% under current specifications) and handled as regular jet fuel once blended.
Clean, dry fuel is a safety requirement, not a preference. Standard practice includes:
Filter/water separators and micronic filters at receipt, distribution and into-plane stages remove water and particulate.
Water and sediment are drained from tank and filter sumps and checked before fueling begins. A product recovery tank lets clean fuel go back to storage.
Samples are checked to be clear and bright, and chemical water detectors confirm there is no free water.
Rising DP across a filter shows element loading and when to change elements.
Bonding, grounding and relaxation time after filtration let static charge dissipate safely.
Checks are logged to industry standards such as JIG, EI, IATA guidance and ATA 103.
The Energy Institute (EI) publishes the specifications most airports, fuel suppliers and into-plane operators use to buy, qualify and maintain aviation fuel equipment. These are the publications that come up most often:
| Standard | What it covers | Relevant equipment |
|---|---|---|
| EI 1581 | Specification and laboratory qualification of aviation fuel filter/water separators (coalescer and separator elements). Qualification categories reflect the service, such as commercial (Category C) and military (Category M), and types reflect the application, such as Type S and Type S-LW for mobile equipment. | Jet fuel filtration vessels |
| EI 1596 | Design and construction requirements for aviation fuel filter vessels (the housings), used alongside pressure vessel codes such as ASME Section VIII. | Filter vessels |
| EI 1590 | Specification and qualification of aviation fuel microfilters used for fine particulate removal. | Micronic filters |
| EI 1583 | Laboratory tests and minimum performance for aviation fuel filter monitors. Industry guidance has been moving away from filter monitors, so check current JIG and EI requirements for your operation. | Filtration vessels |
| EI 1541 | Performance requirements for protective internal coatings in aviation fuel storage tanks, piping and equipment. | Coated vessels |
| EI 1542 | Identification markings for aviation fuel grades on facilities, storage and mobile fueling equipment, to prevent misfueling. | Refuelers and cabinets |
| EI 1529 | Aviation fueling hose and hose assemblies: construction, testing and marking. | Aviation hose and parts |
| EI 1540 | Design, construction, commissioning, maintenance and testing of aviation fuel handling facilities. | Fuel farm projects |
| EI 1584 | Four-inch hydrant system components and arrangements, including hydrant pit valves and couplers. | Hydrant dispensers |
| EI 1585 | Guidance on cleaning aviation fuel hydrant systems at airports. | Hydrant pit cleaner |
| EI 1550 | Handbook on the equipment used to maintain and deliver clean aviation fuel, from storage to into-plane. | Aviation equipment |
| EI/JIG 1530 | Quality assurance requirements for the manufacture, storage and distribution of aviation fuel to airports. | Supply-chain filtration |
Standards are revised periodically. Always confirm the edition and category your airport, fuel supplier or tender specifies; Lemico reviews these requirements at the start of every aviation project.
| Your operation | Typical equipment | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Large airport, high traffic | Hydrant system + hydrant dispensers | Fast turnarounds with no fuel trucks crossing the apron |
| Regional airport or remote stands | Refueler trucks | Flexible coverage without hydrant infrastructure |
| FBO, flight school or heliport | Fixed dispensing cabinets | Low operating cost, self-serve and card-lock options |
| Small airfield or hangar | Bowser cart | Compact, towable and affordable for modest volumes |
| Remote site or new fuel farm | Fueling or filtration skid | Built and tested as one package, fast to install |
The main methods are refueler trucks, hydrant fueling with hydrant dispensers, fixed dispensing cabinets, towable bowser carts and skid-mounted fueling packages.
Overwing fueling uses a nozzle in an open filler cap on top of the wing and suits light aircraft and AvGas. Underwing fueling uses a pressure coupling under the wing at higher flow rates and is standard for jets.
A vehicle or cart that connects an airport hydrant pit to the aircraft, filtering and metering fuel on the way. It carries no fuel tank of its own.
Both are kerosene-type turbine fuels. Jet A-1 has a lower maximum freezing point (−47 °C) than Jet A (−40 °C).
The main ones are EI 1581 for filter/water separators, EI 1596 for filter vessel design and construction, EI 1590 for microfilters and EI 1541 for internal coatings. Hydrant equipment also references EI 1584 and EI 1585.
Fuel is filtered at every transfer point, tanks and filters are drained daily, samples are checked for water and particulate, and filter differential pressure is monitored.
Lemico supplies aviation refuelers and bowser carts, hydrant servicers and carts, fuel dispensing cabinets, aviation skids and jet fuel filtration vessels, plus parts and project support.
Related equipment and support that often goes with this page.
Tell us about your aircraft, fuel grades, traffic and site, and we will recommend the right mix of refueling equipment.
