Post published:02/07/2020
Post category:Latest Member News
Reading time:6 mins read

More than 250,000 fuellings completed using digital technology designed to help reduce misfuelling risk.
Milestone fuelling took place at Adelaide Airport (ADL) in Australia

Air bp, the international aviation fuel products and services supplier, has passed a milestone of 250,000 fuellings using its Airfield Automation digital technology. The landmark fuelling took place in Adelaide, Australia, when the business supplied Jet A-1 (with fuel system icing inhibitor) to The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

Since launching in May 2018, Airfield Automation has been rolled out to 145 Air bp network locations in 18 countries on four continents. Since the start of the year, new sites have also gone live in Norway, Sweden and the UK. Before many aircraft were grounded due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Air bp was completing around 1,000 fuellings per day globally with some 20% using Airfield Automation.

Designed to enhance safety, reliability and compliance in airport fuelling operations, Air bp’s technology has been well received by operators who have reported increased speed and efficiency in fuelling. Customers have noted improved turnaround times and enhanced accuracy in fuelling.

Damien Heath, head of flying operations for RFDS Central Operations said: “Safety and reliability are critical to RFDS providing care in South Australia and the Northern Territory, so innovative systems such as Airfield Automation that prevent the possibility of misfuelling is a welcome addition. The printed dockets are an added benefit which again helps remove errors in documentation.”

Kerry Rutherford, Air bp technical director, said: “We are pleased to have reached this milestone and I am delighted to hear the positive feedback from our customers globally. We look forward to extending the roll out across hub airports in the coming months. With this new technology, we are playing our part in helping to ensure that the fuelling process is fast, efficient and safe. Misfuelling is one of the biggest risks we face in our industry; our global solution is good news for our customers and good news for our industry.”

Air bp’s cloud-based platform is the first commercially deployed system in the world to provide an engineering barrier to actively help prevent misfuelling. It consolidates the data related to airport fuelling operations and works via an app on a handheld device in the fuelling vehicle.

The ‘safe2go’ app captures fuel volume readings and provides fuel grade checks to add an additional misfuelling barrier. It then electronically captures customer details which are confirmed with an electronic signature from the pilot or airline representative. By using this automated, end-to-end, paperless system, accuracy is enhanced and any potential miskeying errors minimised.

Aside from the enhanced safety barriers, aircraft operators are also benefitting from faster, more comprehensive and more accurate fuelling and delivery data.

It is anticipated that the majority of Air bp’s planned 350 Airfield Automation locations will be fully operational by the end of 2020. In future, Air bp will continue to develop the system by providing extra digital services for customers such as improved back-office processes by accelerating reconciliation of invoices with delivery receipts.

Left: Air bp’s Airfield Automation; right, Air bp fuels The Royal Flying Doctor Service

About Air bp

As the aviation division of BP, Air bp is one of the world’s leading suppliers of aviation fuel products and services. It has been investing in the aviation industry for more than 90 years to keep people flying safely around the world.

Its customers include commercial airlines, the military, business and private aircraft owners, airports and airfield operators. Air bp has a wide range of services to support its fuel offer including the design, build and operation of fuelling facilities, technical consultancy and training, low carbon solutions, the Sterling Card for efficient general aviation refuelling and innovative digital platforms to increase efficiency and reduce risk.

For more information, go to www.airbp.com

Further enquiries:

Air bp – Emerald Media, +44 1420 560094, liz.danner@emeraldmedia.co.uk

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Paul Cremer

My name is Paul Cremer, and this marks my 42nd year working within the business and general aviation industry. Over this time, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing a diverse array of sector activities, ranging from aircraft charter and management to air ambulance services, ground operations, air traffic control, airport management, technology implementation, and the outsourcing services I currently manage.

In my role focused on delivering advisory, technology, and outsourcing services to aviation customers, I handle a wide spectrum of responsibilities. This includes overseeing International Trip Support, Operations Control Centre Services (OCC), Continuing Airworthiness Management Service (CAMO), Airworthiness Reviews, ARC Services, Aircraft Delivery and Re-delivery Support Services, Maintenance Coordination Services including AOG, Tech Ops (Maintenance Control Centre), and managing myairops software products. As the Head of Aviation Delivery, I lead the customer-facing delivery of Technology & Outsourcing products and services for the market, drawing upon a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and industry connections within Gama Aviation’s Technology and Outsourcing Strategic Business Unit.

My journey into Business and General Aviation began during my teenage years while still in school. I was fortunate enough to be welcomed into the industry, starting at a flying club, and later working at the Air Traffic Services Unit at Blackbushe Airport. There, I maintained the ATC Movement Logs in the Control Tower during weekends, solidifying my passion for aviation. Upon completing my schooling, I seized opportunities at Fairoaks Airport, where I began as Ground Crew while pursuing my Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer’s license. Advancements in my career led me to the role of Air Traffic Services Manager.

Since joining Gama Aviation in 1996, I’ve held various positions, including Operations Manager (Post Holder), Operations & Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager, Operations Delivery Manager, Head of Business Aviation Delivery, and currently, Head of Aviation Delivery. This role encompasses Gama Aviation Group’s Gama Aviation, myairops, and FlyerTech companies.

In 2023, I was honoured to be invited to serve as the Chair of the Operations Working Group for the British Business & General Aviation Association. This opportunity allows me to contribute to industry initiatives within BBGA’s membership of nearly 200 industry companies, focusing on challenges such as regulatory compliance, Air Services Agreements, technological advancements, workforce development, operational matters, and sustainability.

Marc Bailey

Marc Bailey has spent his entire career in aviation and has worked in most areas of Aviation Services with scheduled airlines, MRO’s, military contract support and latterly with associations, government, and its agencies.

Marc represents your position in Europe (even post Brexit) – as President of ECOGAS (European Council of General Aviation Support) which maintains a voice with EASA. All the major member states are represented on the ECOGAS board. With EASA restructuring its meetings with industry, ECOGAS is now well positioned to represent our position in all areas following industry partnerships with the European Independent Maintenance Group and with ARPAS the new drone and autonomous association.

Marc is chair of the UKASF (United Kingdom Airworthiness Strategic Forum) as part of an initiative to develop Aviation Services across all aviation activities. The UKASF pulls together airlines, MROs, Rotary, Drones, and commercial GA bodies to work with CAA and DfT. The objective is for industry to take the lead to drive strategic issues to benefit all parties. We are well positioned after four years to continue our good work and with the re-established role of Chief Surveyor in the CAA we have a good focal point to do this.

Marc chairs the CAA Finance and Services Forum which allows industry in the UK to discuss in the financial plans for the CAA and the value for money delivered by those funds paid by industry. This is a new and valuable new platform for all parties.

Under recent developments Marc has formed an alliance with, ARPAS, AOPA, BHA and BBGA so that we can strengthen our voice under a joint ‘GA 4 Biz’ banner. This alliance is working to do everything possible to represent the industry’s business interests with UK government and to help realise the Government’s desire to make UK General Aviation a Global Leader in a post Brexit environment. GA4Biz – GA4Biz

The next Generation initiatives with industry and government have continued to develop with the retention platform now evolving into the “Aviation Skills Recruitment Platform”. The platform now not only offers a vehicle for those offering and seeking posts in aviation, it also provides pathways with its TalentView portion seeking to provide pathways for new entrants into our sector. The recruitment platform is being further developed to include training opportunities across a wide range of providers, from government agencies through academic bodies. Getting our next generation activities right in the UK over the next couple of years is our single most important issue which we in aviation must grab with both hands. Marc is playing a central role to help develop many of these channels.

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