Regan Brown
The size of an airport's fuel tanks depends on the size of the airport and its level of activity. Most large airports receive their fuel via pipelines, which can deliver millions of gallons per day. For example, the Colonial Pipeline, which delivers jet fuel, is 5,500 miles long and delivers 100 million gallons per day. Some large airports, such as LAX, have huge fuel storage areas, while smaller airports tend to have their fuel delivered by trucks. A large B747-400 aircraft can carry up to 55,000 gallons of fuel, and the amount supplied to each aircraft is determined by the pilot and airport operations staff based on factors such as total flight weight and destination.
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What You'll Learn
Fuel delivery methods: pipeline, truck, rail, or ship
The size of an airport's fuel tanks and the methods used to deliver fuel depend on the size of the airport and the volume of air traffic. Large and medium-sized airports usually have pipelines, whereas smaller airports tend to have fuel delivered by trucks.
Pipeline
Pipelines are a common method for transporting fuel to airports. They are considered safe, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly. In the United States, 70% of crude oil and petroleum products are shipped by pipeline. Pipelines can carry fuel over long distances, even through rugged terrain and national parks, to reach airports. Additionally, pipelines can be connected to "tank farms," which are large-scale distribution centers for petroleum products.
Truck
Smaller airports often rely on trucks to deliver fuel. These trucks can carry between 8,000 and 18,000 gallons of fuel per trip and supply airports that are not connected to pipelines. Trucking, however, accounts for only a small percentage of fuel shipments, around 4% in the United States.
Rail
Railcars or trains can transport fuel to tank farms, which then supply airports through pipelines. Rail transport offers shorter transit times and the ability to respond quickly to market fluctuations. While rail transport has been increasing, particularly in North America, it accounts for a small percentage of fuel shipments, similar to trucking.
Ship or Barge
Fuel can also be delivered to airports via ships or barges, especially for airports located near bodies of water, such as Port Everglades, which serves FLL and MIA airports. Shipping fuel by water is inexpensive, flexible, and has large capacities. A typical tank barge can hold 30,000 barrels of oil, and there are approximately 275 tank barges available for this purpose.
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Fuel storage capacity: millions of gallons
The size of an airport's fuel tanks depends on the size of the airport and its level of activity. Large commercial aircraft airports have high fuel requirements, with fuel being one of their most significant operating costs. Airports like LAX are reported to have huge fuel storage areas, with the capacity to store millions of gallons of fuel.
Fuel storage facilities are typically situated in remote locations at the airport, away from the terminals and aircraft refueling points. This is a safety measure and also allows for revenue-generating functions to take place closer to the terminals. At San Diego International Airport, for example, the fuel lines pass under the airport's active runway and taxiways.
Most large airports receive the majority of their fuel via pipelines, which can be dedicated to jet fuel or shared with multiple products. These pipelines can be very long, stretching for hundreds of miles. The Colonial Pipeline, for instance, is 5,500 miles long and can deliver 100 million gallons of fuel per day to tank farms, which hold a total of one billion gallons.
Some airports, particularly smaller ones, may receive fuel deliveries by truck. These trucks typically hold 8,000 gallons of fuel. Airports with smaller storage capacities may receive multiple fuel deliveries per day to meet their needs.
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Fuel tank locations: remote areas on airport property
The size of an airport's fuel tanks depends on the size of the airport and its level of air traffic. Large and medium-sized airports usually have pipelines, whereas smaller airports typically receive fuel deliveries by truck.
Some airports, such as Dulles airport, are supplied with fuel through pipelines. For example, the Colonial Pipeline, which is over 1,000 miles long, delivers fuel from Houston to IAD and BWI. The Olympic pipeline, which starts in northwest Washington, also supplies airports with fuel all the way to Portland, Oregon.
However, not all airports are connected to these pipelines. Smaller airports may have fuel delivered by trucks, and some may have their own smaller tank farms on-site. For example, a user on Reddit mentions that the airport they work at has a fuel farm that holds 60,000 gallons of Jet A fuel and 10,000 gallons of avgas, which is much smaller than other airports.
In summary, the location and size of fuel tanks at an airport depend on its size and traffic volume. Large and medium-sized airports often have direct pipeline access, whereas smaller airports may rely on fuel deliveries by truck or have smaller on-site tank farms.
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Fuel tank design: double-walled, stainless steel
Fuel tank size at an airport depends on the size of the airport and its level of activity. Large and medium-sized airports usually have pipelines, while smaller airports typically have fuel delivered by trucks. For example, a smaller airport may have tanks that hold 60,000 gallons of Jet A fuel and 10,000 gallons of avgas, while larger airports may have tanks that hold 100,000 gallons or more.
To address the challenges associated with aviation fuel storage, such as water contamination, specialised double-walled fuel tanks have been designed for the airline industry. These tanks are constructed with an inner stainless steel layer and a carbon outer shell, providing secondary containment. This design eliminates the need for a separate containment dike or pan, as any debris or water is contained within the outer tank shell.
Double-walled tanks are a dependable solution for meeting secondary containment requirements and are widely used across various industries, including fleet fuelling sites, municipalities, and marine installations. They are designed to provide reliable and safe bulk oil storage, with capacities ranging from 300 gallons up to 30,000 gallons.
The UL-142 standard is commonly met by double-walled tanks, ensuring their safety and reliability. These tanks often feature multiple openings, a fork lift skid channel, and optional extras such as custom colours, coatings, dimensions, and refuelling equipment.
Additionally, some tanks are equipped with features such as pumps, overfill prevention valves, spill containers, venting, and level gauges. The sloping floor design, as seen in UNITY AVIATION TANKS, aids in water drainage and maintenance. This design consideration is crucial as water contamination can lead to catastrophic engine failure.
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Fuel type: Jet-A, Jet-A1, AVGAS
Jet-A, Jet-A1, and AVGAS are the three main types of aviation fuel. Jet-A powers modern commercial airliners and is a mix of extremely refined kerosene with a burning temperature of 49°C (120°F) or above. Jet-A1 is the standard specification fuel used in most parts of the world, except Russia and CIS members, where TS-1 fuel is more common. Jet-A1 is a reliable and efficient energy source for aircraft engines. AVGAS, or aviation gasoline, is used by small aircraft, light helicopters, and vintage piston-engined aircraft. It is a highly refined form of gasoline with an emphasis on purity and anti-knock characteristics.
The safe storage of these fuels is critical for the aviation industry. Tanks must be designed and constructed to meet specific standards and regulations. For example, in the United States, storing over 250 US gallons of fuel for commercial purposes requires the use of double-walled storage vessels. Additionally, any part of the tank that comes into contact with aviation fuel must be made of stainless steel to prevent rust contamination.
The size of fuel tanks at airports can vary. Fuelchief offers a range of tanks, including the SuperVault Aviation Series, which has a capacity of 20,000L to 110,000L. Ekonstal designed and delivered two JET A-1 aviation fuel tanks to an airport in Norway, each with a capacity of 80 cubic meters, for a total storage capacity of 160,000 liters of JET A-1 fuel. These tanks are single-chamber, double-walled, horizontal-axis aboveground tanks that meet the design and material requirements for JET A-1 fuel storage.
The design of the fuel tanks is also important to ensure proper fuel quality and safety. For instance, the JET A-1 tanks in Norway feature a design that allows condensate and sediment to accumulate at the bottom, making it easier to remove and maintain fuel quality. Additionally, special separators are often designed to collect minor contaminants and separate water from the fuel, as water contamination can lead to catastrophic engine failure.
The manner and conditions under which JET A-1 fuel is stored are critical not only for maintaining its physical and chemical properties but also for ensuring environmental safety and protecting human health. As a result, appropriate anti-corrosion protection is necessary, and tanks may be coated with materials that meet specific standards, such as the Nordic Bund standard.
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Frequently asked questions
The size of the fuel tanks at an airport depends on the size and traffic of the airport. Large and medium-sized airports usually have pipelines, whereas smaller airports have fuel delivered by trucks. For example, a small airport can have a fuel farm that holds 60,000 gallons of Jet A fuel and 10,000 gallons of avgas, while larger airports can have multiple tanks that hold 100,000 gallons each.
The frequency of refilling airport fuel tanks depends on the airport's traffic and the size of the tanks. Smaller airports with less traffic might receive 3-4 fuel deliveries per day, while larger airports can receive 1-5 fuel deliveries per day.
The amount of fuel an aircraft needs depends on the weight of the plane, the destination, and the availability of alternate airports. Generally, a plane will carry enough fuel to reach its destination and an alternate airport in case the first one is closed.
