Air BP, the international aviation fuel products and service supplier, returns to the Dubai Air Show at Dubai World Central (DWC/OMDW) this week. At the same time, Air BP is rolling out its digital Airfield Automation technology at Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA), located at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). This is the first location in the region to benefit from the new technology which aims to enhance safety, reliability and compliance in airport fuelling operations.
Technology recently debuted at four airports in Greece
The rollout of Airfield Automation at EFTA is part of a global programme by Air BP. The technology is already live at more than 100 airports in 13 countries on 4 continents. More than 45,000 over-wing fuellings have been completed where fuelling operators and customers have benefited from Airfield Automation’s unique Misfuel Prevention Technology, which helps to reduce the risk of misfuelling. Most recently, Air BP rolled out the technology to its locations in Greece at Megara (LGMG), Syros (JSY/ LGSO), Ioannina King Pyrros (IOA/ LGIO) and Sitia airports (JSH/ LGST). It is anticipated that the technology will be fully operational at around 350 locations globally by the end of 2020.
Airfield Automation is a cloud-based platform that is designed to help prevent misfuelling by means of an engineering barrier. It helps to deliver enhanced safety, reliability and compliance in airport fuelling operations, and enables Air BP to provide data in real time to airline customers. It is the first commercially deployed system of its kind in the world.
The platform consolidates the data related to airport fuelling operations and works via an app on a handheld device in the fuelling vehicles. The ‘safe2go’ app captures fuel volume readings and provides fuel grade checks to add an additional misfuelling barrier. It then electronically captures customer details which are confirmed with an electronic signature from the pilot or airline representative. By using this automated, end-to-end, paperless system, accuracy is enhanced and any potential miskeying errors minimised.
In addition to the enhanced safety barriers, aircraft operators will also benefit from faster, more comprehensive and more accurate fuelling and delivery data. The cloud-based technology will enable Air BP to offer increasingly integrated information to customers, such as delivery records and precise delivery timings.
Robert Gerritsen, general manager for Air BP Middle East & Northern Africa, comments: “We are delighted to be exhibiting at the Dubai Air Show and to be rolling out Airfield Automation at Emirates Flight Training Academy. Our success in the Middle East is based on our track record in safe and reliable operations. Misfuelling is one of the biggest risks we face in our industry. With this new technology, we are providing an engineering barrier to help prevent misfuelling which is good news for our region and good news for our industry.”
