Sector Introduction
Microbiological growth, by fungi and bacteria, can occur at any stage in the jet fuel supply chain. From the moment the fuel leaves the refinery, to the point at which it is uploaded to an aircraft; jet fuel is constantly exposed to the risk of microbial contamination.
As a result, every stakeholder within this supply chain must remain aware of the risks it can pose for fuel quality, aircraft operations and safety.
Commercial airlines and military operators, airports, general aviation, MROs and jet fuel suppliers can all be affected by this type of jet fuel contamination, and this is why industry associations such as IATA and JIG take a pro-active approach to providing industry guidance on how to manage this problem. Preventing water accumulation in aircraft tanks and storage tanks to minimise microbial contamination in jet fuel is essential, ideally backed up with comprehensive jet fuel testing. Some of the key issues that microbiological contamination in jet fuel can cause are outlined below.