Aviation Fuels: Specifications and Test Methods

Early Bird Special

ASTM automatically applies a discount of 10% when participants register 90 days before the start of the class.
*After the early bird period expires, registrations are subject to standard pricing.

About the Course

This extensive 3-day class provides broad coverage of aviation fuel specifications and test methods. The course focuses on how specifications are used to control the quality of aviation fuels and why they affect product performance and availability. Emphasizing practical applications, the course covers the development of specifications and methods, highlights past and current problems, explains methods of testing and manufacturing aviation fuels and discusses transportation systems. Interaction of aviation fuels with aircraft engines and ground equipment is also stressed.

The class is taught in a participatory atmosphere and includes access to numerous hands-on samples of aviation fuel equipment. In addition to the course workbook, you will also receive a copy of ASTM's manual on Aviation Fuel Quality Control Procedures, as well as copies of various ASTM standards.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this class you will be able to:

• Determine how specifications are used to control the quality of aviation fuels and why they affect product performance and availability
• List bulk and trace properties of aviation fuel
• Describe past and current problems related to aviation fuel
• Explain various methods of testing aviation fuels and how they are manufactured
• Explain methods of fuel handling, sampling and transportation
• Describe the interaction of aviation fuels with aircraft engines and ground equipment.

Who Should Attend

Anyone needing a general understanding of fuel specifications and quality control, especially supervisors, managers, and professionals new to the field in:

• Fuel handling or systems design lab operations
• Purchasing
• Quality control
• Airport service firms
• Fuel refiners
• Pipeline operators
• Fuel and equipment suppliers
• Inspection labs
• Trading companies
• Government agencies
• Aircraft, engine, or accessory manufacturers

Not intended for laboratory technicians or those who run the tests because it does not address detailed conduct of the various methods.

Course Description

Class starts at 8:00 a.m. each day and ends at 4:30 p.m. on days 1 and 2. Following lunch on the third day, an airport fueling facility may be included in the course provided such a visit is accepted by the local airport authorities.

Day 1

• Jet Engine Descriptions
• Jet Fuel Descriptions and Specifications (Commercial/Military)
• Hydrocarbon Types
• Jet Fuel Specification Properties
• Bulk Properties: Volatility, Low Temperature and Combustion, Density, Heat Content, Viscosity
• Trace Properties: Oxidative Stability, Compatibility with Materials, Particulate Content, etc.

• Jet Fuel Non-Specification Properties
• Cleanliness
• Water Content
• Micro-organisms
• Color
• Lubricity
• Aviation Gasolines (Avgas)
• Engines
• History
• Specification Listings
• Specification Properties: Knock Ratings Lead Content, Volatility, Heat Content, Storage Stability, Water Separation Corrosivity
• Fuel Manufacture
• Methods
• Control of Properties
• Additives
• Fuel Handling and Transportation
• Static Electricity

• QC: Equipment and Procedures
• Tour of Airport Fuel System

ASTM Standards Referenced

ASTM Standards

• D56 Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Tester
• D910 Specification for Aviation Gasolines
• D1655 Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels
• D4057 Practice: Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
• D4865 Guide for Generation and Dissipation of Static Electricity in Petroleum Fuel Systems
• ASTM Manuals
  • MNL 5 Aviation Fuel Quality Control Procedures
  • MNL 1 Significance of Tests for Petroleum Products (Ch. 5)

Fee Includes:

• Course notes
• Inspection tour of fuel systems at an international airport (if available)
• Certificate of Attendance
• 2.1 Continuing Education Units

This course also includes access to a free ASTM course:

• ASTM 101: An Introduction to ASTM Standard Development and Utilization

About the Instructors

Fred Barnes, Aviation Fuels Consultant

Fred has taught the Aviation Fuels Specifications and Test Methods for ASTM for several years. He has been involved in aviation fuels consultation on aviation fuel technology, including fuel specifications, test methods, quality control, terminal and aviation operations, technical services, training, contractor, and problem resolution with supply/distribution quality assurance and testing for over 40 years.

He has participated and led in industry activities such as ASTM, IATA, API, SAE, Energy Institute, JIG, ATA, NATA, and CRC. He is currently a Vice Chair of ASTM Subcommittee J on Aviation Fuels.

He was employed by Shell and Chevron and was the Chevron Aviation Operations Manager for Chevron USA, which included commercial airlines, fixed base operators, and military customers.

John Rhode has worked in the aviation fuel industry for 30 years. He served as the Chief of the POL Tech Team and contributed to the conversion from JP-4 to JP-8, JP-8+100 implementation at over 130 air bases, and deployments to the Persian Gulf Wars and Afghanistan. He also worked at Facet as their Engineering Manager responsible for research and development in fuel filtration, at Air BP as the North America Product Quality Manager, and at Tesoro/Andeavor and Marathon Petroleum Co. in Refining. He contributed significantly to the development of standards in the aviation industry and held leadership positions in many of the industry's technical bodies, including ASTM, CRC, and the Energy Institute. Recently, he was honored with the ASTM D02 Eagle Award for his contribution to standards development.

About Sponsoring Committee

Organized in 1898, ASTM is one of the world's largest voluntary standards development organizations. ASTM standards have grown to be among the world's most widely used and accepted documents. The 82-volume Annual Book of ASTM Standards contain 13,000 standards written by 34,000 members on our 140 technical committees. Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants developed the standards used in this course. For more information, go to our D02 technical committee page.

Attention: Professional Engineers

If your state has a continuing education requirement for license renewal, ASTM training courses and ASTM membership can help you meet that requirement.

On-Site Training Available

ASTM can bring this course to your site! On-site training courses can also be tailored to meet your specific needs. For more information, please contact sales here or call 1-877-909-ASTM.

How Learning Will Be Assessed

Learning will be assessed through a series of question and answer sessions.

Questions About the Training Course

For information on this training course, please contact Training

Cancellation Policy

Note: Because of the potential for course changes or cancellations, it is not advisable to make non-refundable accommodation reservations, since ASTM cannot be responsible for any loss incurred.

If you need to cancel your attendance in this class, phone or email notification to me is required five (5) business days prior to the first day of the seminar. You may receive a full refund, minus a $100 administrative fee, up to and including the 5th business day before the seminar. You may transfer your registration to another session (within the same calendar year), or designate an alternate attendee free of charge up to five (5) days prior to the first day of class. If you find that you cannot attend, and it is less than five (5) business days before the start of the seminar, you may send a replacement, with phone notice to me. If you are unable to send a replacement, you forfeit 50% of your registration fee.

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• EPA Tier III SQC Readiness Workshop
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Online Courses

• ASTM Petroleum Lab Technician Series

Proficiency Testing Program(s)

ASTM offers related Proficiency Testing Program(s) for this industry