scope:

Purpose

This bulletin is written to provide individuals or groups with a system for marking aviation fuel types and grades on fuel handling installations and equipment at airports.

In addition to the requirements on the airports for proper marking and color coding, there is a need throughout the aviation industry generally for uniformity in product names. The aviation gasoline and turbine fuel naming system suggested herein for airport usage is recommended for world-wide use, not only on the airport equipment, but for all communications where it is desirable to identify aviation gasoline and turbine fuels by grades or types.

The markings and color coding system described herein are suitable for world-wide adoption. It is the outgrowth of a joint effort combining the recommendations of the European and American aviation industries. The International Air Transport Association has been particularly helpful in the development of this world-wide system.

Choice of a Marking Code

The marking code outlined in this bulletin is a combination of the best parts of a large number of different systems. At the time this bulletin is written, no marking system used by any petroleum refiner, airline, safety council, municipality, aviation products dealer, or military specification covers all of the items discussed herein; but, many of the items recommended are already found on some airport fueling elements.

Reasons for a Marking Code

The aviation industry requires a uniform and easily understood system for showing what fuel is in each part of an airport fueling system. This requirement is based on the need for safe handling to prevent mixing one grade with another and to prevent delivery of the wrong grade of fuel into an airplane. Emphasis is placed on a color code system to show gasoline as a group different than jet fuels and then separate the grades within each group.

Airport fueling systems should be clearly marked wherever line connections are made, pumps started or stopped, valves turned, or product exposed for loading or unloading.

The marking code described in this bulletin permits rapid identification under both normal and emergency conditions, also during daylight, raining, or night light conditions. The system is clearly visible whether the airport surface is black, green, or covered with snow.

The methods of marking are clear from a distance as well as at close range.