AV F U E L
Fueling the magic
Avfuel provides a behind the scenes look at
the supply process that often goes unnoticed
Without calling ahead to ensure
an airport has fuel (unless
flying to a remote location), it is the
pilot’s expectation that there will be fuel
available. It’s something those in the
industry can easily take for granted on
every trip when they land at an airport,
and that’s the magic of it.
The magic lies in the unseen –
the months of planning and logistics
that go unnoticed to deliver that routine
load of fuel from the refinery to the
wingtip of an aircraft. And at risk of losing
that mystique, the Avfuel team is lifting
the veil on the process. Because what’s
a given for FBOs, airports and pilots,
commercial carriers and cargo handlers,
is actually the product of a meticulous,
well-oiled, complicated machine of
logistics and support.
Supply and logistics
The basis of reliable supply lies in
developing and maintaining relationships
with a network of producers. Avfuel has
more than 100 such relationships with
refineries and oil companies, as well
as experience with trading and pipeline
management. This redundancy in supply
ensures, even in times of shortages due
to weather or closures, customers receive
the fuel they need. The supply team not
only manages these relationships, but
also handles the logistics of transporting
the fuel from the refinery to the terminal or
short-term storage facility, of which there
are more than 275 in the Avfuel Network.
This is done via pipeline, barge, rail or
truck, depending on product type, origin
and destination.
Over-the-road transport trucks then
haul fuel from the storage terminals to
their final destinations - airport and FBO
fuel storage systems. Avfuel’s logistics
department helps oversee the inventories
of hundreds of fuel tanks. This dedicated
team of experienced professionals works
24/7 every day of the year to take and
manage fuel orders for the entire Avfuel
Network of 650+ branded FBOs, as well
as all other major aviation segments. They
successfully source the fuel as efficiently
and cost effectively as possible for the
company’s customers, and work directly
with dedicated fuel haulers to safely
transport the fuel, while adhering
to strict quality control measures along
the way.
Safety and support
The product undergoes meticulous quality
control procedures at multiple touchpoints
along the fuel’s lifecycle, particularly while
the fuel is at the refinery, at the terminal,
loaded into the transport truck and
unloaded into airport storage units.
To further ensure fuel safety, Avfuel
employs a team of fuel quality assurance
experts who are available every minute
of every day of the year to answer
and troubleshoot any fuel or refueling
equipment question or concern.
And while the fuel has made it to its
final destination, the support surrounding
it doesn’t end. There are crucial training
70 | BU S INE S S A I R P O RT INT E RNAT I ONA L JA N UA RY 2 0 2 0
FBOs: More than 650 branded FBOs
in Europe and North America
Services: Less-than-retail rates on
jet fuel through Avfuel Contract Fuel,
international flight support and trip
planning, insurance, equipment
Above right: Months
of planning and
logistics go into
delivering fuel from
a refinery to the
wingtip of an aircraft
Above: Over-the-road
transport trucks
haul fuel to airport
and FBO fuel
storage systems
Above: Fuel undergoes
meticulous quality
control procedures at
multiple touchpoints
Vital
statistics
Fueling locations: 3,000+
and training
systems that educate employees and
provide recurrent training needs on fuel
handling and safety, such as the Avfuel
Training System, which includes FAAapproved
Part 139 fuel safety training,
and a plethora of ground-handling lessons
and resources. There are tax implications,
for which Avfuel has an extensive team of
well-versed professionals in its Ann Arbor
headquarters. There’s aircraft refueling
equipment, of which Avfuel designs,
assembles, refurbishes, manages and
supports a fleet of more than 800 trucks.
There are credit lines, card processing
and loyalty rewards to help streamline the
payment process and reward purchases.
The list goes on.
This accrues to hundreds of
employees, countless hours and extensive
resources all to ensure the fuel that’s
pumped into the wing of an aircraft is
always available and always on spec.
It goes unnoticed, and that’s the way
any good fuel supplier would prefer it.
Because an unnoticed, unremarkable,
routine uplift is the hallmark of an efficient,
effective and successful process. When
that happens, the magic is unseen, but it’s
there all the same.
AVFUEL
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visit www.magupdate.co.uk/pbai
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