S_P_2015_04_

FOR RECREATIONAL PILOTS. Sport Pilot^35

A BIG trip is planned and the fuel calculations

reveal you will need to find some fuel along

the way or for your return leg. If there is no

Avgas, or your aircraft can’t be operated on

Avgas, you may come to the decision to carry

additional fuel with you in jerry cans.

But you should first stop and consider the

full ramifications of carrying a flammable sub-

stance as a silent but potentially deadly pas-

senger.

Can you carry additional fuel aboard a rec-

reational aircraft and remain, not only legal,

but safe?

Operations has received a number of in-

quiries asking this question. It’s particularly

pertinent for pilots operating aircraft with a

limited fuel capacity or those who use fuel

types, such as Premium unleaded or 2 stroke

blends, which are not available at most aero-

dromes.

CASR Part 92 outlines the requirements

for carrying dangerous goods, such as fuel,

and guidance is also provided in Advisory

Circular AC 92.A-01(0). The important point

to note is that in paragraph 13.1 of the AC,

private operations are exempt from compli-

ance with the regulations. However pilots are

expected to comply with further regulations

outlined in CASR 92.175 (see sidebar). Effec-

tively, this allows for the carriage of additional

fuel in a recreational aircraft with specific re-

quirements for how this should be achieved.

The key elements which must be complied

with when carrying fuel on board a private air-

craft are:

• The storage container must be an approved
  type and in good condition;


• It must be secured appropriately, not ex-

ceed luggage limitations or be stored contra-

ry to load limits outlined in the aircraft POH;

• The MTOW of the aircraft must never be
  exceeded;


• The container must not cause interference
  with any flight controls;


• Prior to boarding, passengers must be ad-
  vised that dangerous goods are being carried.
  Further considerations should also be
  given to a risk management assessment of
  the following:


• Will any in-flight expansion affect the integ-
  rity of the container?


• Could there be fumes or odours
  in the cockpit?


• Is there a potential for
  static discharge during
  transport?


• When on the ground,
  can the container be
  appropriately bonded
  to transfer the fuel?


• On the ground, can
  the refuelling points be
  safely reached?


• What plan do you have if a
  container vents or leaks during
  flight?


• Is there a safer alternative – e.g carrying
  an empty container and filling it when on the
  ground?
  So while private operators are exempt
  from the specific requirements of the danger-
  ous goods legislation, these points should
  always be considered.
  That silent, but potentially deadly, passen-
  ger could really ruin what would otherwise be
  a fun fly away.

CAN YOU HELP?

Part of Operations’ duties is to undertake

investigations into accidents and incidents

after they’ve been assessed by the Safety

Manager. Recent investigations have high-

lighted an area of rapid change and we need

your help.

An increasing number of people these

days carry recording devices with them, such

as iPhones, tablets or Go-Pro cameras. Often

lately when working with police, Operations

has been made aware of people in the vicinity

of the accident who took footage or photos

of the accident or knew about cameras

on aircraft or nearby which may pro-

vide information important to our

investigation.

In the case of a recent fa-

tal accident, Operations has

been made aware there was

footage not volunteered to

police on the day. Quite apart

from a legal obligation not

to impede an active police in-

vestigation, there is also a moral

and ethical imperative for a person

to come forward with footage or photos

which may help us work out just what caused

the accident.

Footage or photos taken by non-pilots on

Go-Pro cameras, iPhones, and other devices

is likely to appear on YouTube soon after the

event. Let us know if you spot it. And if you

have recorded an accident yourself, please

contact the police or Operations and offer ac-

cess to the device. The information may save

your own life in the future.

Safe flying.

Fuel to Go!

Pilot talk

The Ops team

“Can you

carry additional

fuel and remain

safe?”

CASR 92.175 GOODS CARRIED

BY PRIVATE OPERATORS

Subparts 92.B and 92.C do not apply to

the carriage of dangerous

goods by an aircraft operated by an

operator engaged in private (non-

commercial) operations if:

(a) the aircraft is operating in Australian

territory and:

(i) is unpressurised; and

(ii) has an approved passenger seat

configuration of less than

10 seats; and

(b) the goods:

(i) are in a proper condition for carriage

by air; and

(ii) are identified by class in accordance

with the Technical

Instructions; and

(iii) are permitted by the Technical

Instructions to be carried on

a passenger or cargo aircraft; and

(iv) are stowed and secured on the

aircraft to prevent

movement and damage, and segregated

in accordance with

the requirements of the Technical

Instructions if they are

likely to react dangerously with one

another; and

(c) the pilot-in-command of the aircraft

ensures that every person on board the

aircraft knows, before boarding the

aircraft, that the

dangerous goods are on board.