There are three basic types of aircraft fuel tanks: rigid removable tanks, bladder tanks, and integral fuel tanks.

Operation of any fuel pump may not affect engine operation by creating a hazard, regardless of the engine power or thrust setting or the functional status of any other fuel pump. Fuel tank access panel locations on a Boeing 737 (A). They are strong and have a long life with seams only around installed features, such as the tank vents, sump drain, filler spout, etc. Steel fuel containment systems have a proven history of providing reliable and safe storage of fuel products for aviation and mission critical applications.

FES tanks are all made to the highest standards of quality in a spotlessly clean, purpose-built manufacturing facility. [1], Rigid removable tanks are installed in a compartment designed to accommodate the tank. Pressure fueling systems are used on many large, high-performance, and air carrier aircraft. [citation needed], Conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) or "fast packs" are additional fuel tanks fitted closely to the profile of an aircraft which extend either the range or endurance of the aircraft, with a reduced aerodynamic penalty compared to external drop tanks.

Every organisation has its own fuel requirements. Hoover Ferguson’s design integrates well into the designs of helifuel dispensing systems used worldwide. © 2020 Steel Tank and Fabricating Corp. All Rights Reserved. They should lie smooth and unwrinkled in the bay. Standards exist for main pumps and emergency pumps. That’s why we manufacture ours with uncompromising attention to quality and meticulous attention to detail. Each valve and fuel system control must be supported so that loads resulting from its operation, or from accelerated flight conditions, are not transmitted to the lines connected to the valve.

[6] Placement of fuel tanks in the wings also moves them further from passengers and crew in the event of a leak or explosion. Fuel discharged because of thermal expansion is allowed.

Each fuel tank must have an expansion space of not less than two percent of the tank capacity.

Regardless of the actual construction of removable metal tanks, they must be supported by the airframe and held in place with some sort of padded strap arrangement to resist shifting in flight.

Some tanks are formed to be part of the leading edge of the wing. Fuel Tank Vents and Carburetor Vapor Vents.

Turbine fuel aircraft filler openings must be no smaller than 2.95 inches. At most airports fuel for aircraft and ground vehicles is stored in aboveground storage tanks (ASTs). Once repaired, fuel tanks need to be pressure checked, usually while installed in the airframe, to prevent distortion while under pressure. Each tank compartment must be ventilated and drained to prevent the accumulation of flammable fluids or vapors. Self bunded, our double wall contained tanks can be placed on almost any site – there is no longer a need to build underground storage with all the decontamination issues that involves.

To allow proper fuel flow, each fuel tank must be vented from the top part of the expansion space.


The 360º interstice between the steel and FRP secondary containment jacket creates a reliable method for leak detection. Fuelchief have engineered a compliant customised fuel tank range called the SuperVault. Baffle check valves are commonly used. Fuel tanks with flexible liners must demonstrate that the liner is suitable for the particular application. No fuel or fumes can enter any part of the aircraft. On reciprocating-engine aircraft, the jettisoning system must be designed so that it is not possible to jettison the fuel in the tanks used for takeoff and landing below the level allowing 45 minutes of flight at 75 percent maximum continuous power. On many aircraft, especially transport category and high performance aircraft, part of the structure of the wings or fuselage is sealed with a fuel resistant two-part sealant to form a fuel tank. Each pressure fueling system fuel manifold connection must have means to prevent the escape of hazardous quantities of fuel from the system if the fuel entry valve fails.
There must be means to guard against inadvertent operation of each shutoff valve and means to reopen each valve rapidly after it has been closed. Bladders must be supported so they are not required to support the entire fuel load.

There’s only one reason to install a baffle and that’s to help keep the fuel stable when moving the tank.

A fuel tank bay in the root of a light aircraft wing on a stand in a paint booth. It has been multi hazard tested meaning it has been bullet-proof tested, impact tested, and fire tested … For fuel management purposes, sometimes a wing is sealed into separate tanks and may include a surge tank or an overflow tank, which is normally empty but sealed to hold fuel when needed. Commuter category airplanes must have a means to automatically maintain the fuel flow if ice clogs a filter. The fuel must discharge clear of any part of the aircraft and the jettisoning operation must not adversely affect the controllability of the airplane. Less risk of damage during installation when compared to fiberglass systems, TrueNorth Steel® performs pre-installation interstitial vacuum testing, Every tank is shipped with cleaned and leveled fittings to save time, Steel is the ultimate recyclable construction material, Every tank is tested per the UL standard 58+UL1746 to ensure it meets the specifications required by the National Fire Protection Association, TrueNorth Steel maintains a comprehensive Quality Management System that guides every aspect of our operations including sourcing, planning, and manufacturing processes, 70 plus years of complex and critical steel tank fabrication, Member of American Iron and Steel Institute, TrueNorth Steel is dedicated to the highest levels of safety, Unsurpassed customer support and commitment to on-time delivery, Sizes range from 560 to 40,000 gallons and 4 to 12 feet in diameter, Can be fabricated with single or multiple compartments, Elutron® systems produced by TrueNorth Steel® are supplied with a limited 30-year warranty when storing flammable and combustible fluids, Each tank is UL listed and Elutron® technology is tested per UL standard 58 external pressure test, American Petroleum Institute and Steel Tank Institute certified and UL Listed. There must be a fuel strainer for the fuel tank outlet or for the booster pump. Each fuel line must be installed and supported to prevent excessive vibration and to withstand loads due to fuel pressure and accelerated flight conditions. This fuel strainer, or filter, must be accessible for draining and cleaning and must incorporate a screen or element that is easily removable. Each fuel tank filler connection must be specifically marked. The vents must be arranged to prevent the loss of fuel when the airplane is parked in any direction on a ramp having a one-percent slope.

Aircraft fuel tanks must be designed, located, and installed to retain fuel when subjected to inertia loads resulting from ultimate static load factors, and under conditions likely to occur when the airplane lands on a paved runway at a normal landing speed with the landing gear retracted.

It must also be demonstrated during a climb with a critical engine inoperative and the remaining engines at maximum continuous power. Low wing aircraft with wing mounted tanks require a pump to move the fuel from the tanks to the carburetor or injectors. It is especially critical to follow all safety procedures when welding repairs are performed. TrueNorth Steel’s UL Listed Elutron® steel and fiberglass jacketed underground fuel storage tanks can be employed to supply fuel directly to aviation fueling pumps, refueling tank trucks and trailers, pushback and baggage tractors and generators.

Each tank must have a drainable sump with an effective capacity, in the normal ground and flight attitudes, of 0.25 percent of the tank capacity, or 1/16 gallon, whichever is greater. ", Aircraft Accident Report: In-flight Breakup Over the Atlantic Ocean Trans World Airlines Flight 800, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aircraft_fuel_tanks&oldid=980980626, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 29 September 2020, at 16:03. Getting the right tank in the right size with the right combination of dispensing systems is a complex business, but we have the expertise to guide you through all the options.

Each integral fuel tank must have adequate facilities for interior inspection and repair. Venting capacity must allow the rapid relief of excessive differences of pressure between the interior and exterior of the tank. There must also be a bypass feature for each positive displacement pump.

South Africa’s bulk fuel storage revolution, self-bunded tanks. Pressurization loads should not affect the tank(s). STAFCO Aviation Tanks can be manufactured in carbon steel, carbon steel with an interior lining or all stainless-steel material. Many high-performance light aircraft, helicopters and some smaller turboprop aircraft use bladder tanks.

The average rate of fuel jettisoning must be at least 1 percent of the maximum weight per minute, except that the time required to jettison the fuel need not be less than 10 minutes. External tanks are commonplace on modern military aircraft and occasionally found in civilian ones, although the latter are less likely to be discarded except in the event of emergency.

These are built with a stainless steel inner tank specifically designed for aviation fuels. The wing ribs and box beam structural members serve as baffles and others may be added specifically for that purpose. [6] The aircraft engines are also capable of getting fuel via suction in the result of a failure in the backup pumps, though this produces less reliable thrust.[6].