Frequently Asked Questions: Microbial Growth and Biocide

In response to COVID-19, a large number of passenger aircraft have been grounded with fuel left standing in aircraft wing tanks. During these unprecedented times, it is important for airlines to develop a strategy to avoid any unnecessary risks so aircraft can fly safely again in the future.

On 3 June, Rob Midgley, Global Quality and Technical Manager with Shell Aviation, hosted a webinar for customers addressing the technical challenges and developments in the industry around the problem of microbial contamination of fuel in grounded aircraft. The webinar covered the science of microbial growth and available options to help anticipate, prevent, and treat contamination. This is a transcript of Rob鈥檚 Q&A with customers on the webinar. It has been lightly edited for clarity.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Microbial Growth and Biocide

If a test result indicates that an aircraft is severely contaminated, which removal approach would Shell advocate for - defuelling or applying a biocide treatment?

While comparing the defuelling vs biocide approach, what are the advantages and the disadvantages of these methods?

Are there specific aircraft models that are more receptive to microbial growth?

Microorganisms need three things to cultivate: water, oxygen and food source. While specifically referencing the food source, are there any differences in how microorganism react to JETA1 vs Avgas?

In the webinar, it is shared that a sample needs to be tested within 48 hours but to gain the most accurate result, a sample should be tested within 4 hours. If you aren鈥檛 able to test your sample within the next 4 hours, what would Shell advise to do while refrigerating the samples?

If fuel is treated with biocide, does a microbial test still work?

Is the risk of microbial contamination greater in high-temperature countries?

Are there any concerns relating to long-term storage of aircraft containing biocide-treated fuel?

What are the industry developments regarding the development of additives to impede microbial growth? Will there be a unique blend of fuel developed in the future explicitly designed for aircraft that don鈥檛 often fly to avoid microbial contamination issues?

How often are the fuel tanks at the fuel storage areas tested for water and contamination, including underground piping that leads to the fueling port at the aircraft bay?

Does daily water draining solve the issue of microbial growth in long-term parked aircraft?

In tropical countries, it is advised to redo the water drain task after a severe rain shower. Would this guidance also apply for the current situation?

Can biocide-treated fuel be treated the same as regular fuel, or are there any safety concerns to take into consideration?

Are there any long term R&D commitments made in the industry to add a permanent additive to fuel storages in order to support the prevention of microbial growth?

Does Shell Aviation market any product solutions for long-term fuel preservation of parked aircraft?

Has microbial testing been carried out on fuel samples downstream of storage tanks on hydrant systems, bowsers and hydrant carts?

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