Login
Jet fuel is a colorless, combustible, straight run petroleum distillate liquid, with its principal uses being as an ingredient in lamp oils, charcoal starter fluids, jet engine fuels and insecticides. This class of fuel provides a good balance of properties currently required for aviation fuels, in which energy density, operational issues, cost, and safety all need to be taken into account.
Aviation fuels fall into two basic groups: 1) aviation gasoline, for use in reciprocating or piston engines; and 2) aviation turbine fuels (jet fuels), for use in turbo-fan, turbo-jet and turbo-prop engines. There is a third group known as power boost fluids but these are low volume specialist fuels.
Aviation fuels are produced to stringent manufacturing specifications to promote global distribution and consumption. At every stage between refinery and aircraft tank, fuel quality is checked by sampling and laboratory analysis, to ensure that the fuel conforms to the requirements specified for the grade when it is delivered to the aircraft.
Aviation fuel is often dispensed from a truck which is driven up to parked airplanes and helicopters. When the fuel is being transported it is clearly marked on the trucks and pipes that the fuel is “Jet A”. The average consumption of this fuel is over 22 billion barrels annually.
Regardless of the method, aviation fuel is transferred to an aircraft via one of two methods: overwing and underwing. Overwing fuelling is used on smaller planes, helicopters, and all piston-engine aircraft, and is similar to automobile fuelling — one or more gas ports are opened and fuel is pumped in with a conventional pump. Underwing fuelling, also called single-point, is typically used on larger aircraft.
Summary of Jet Fuel Grades
Jet A-1 (RUSSIAN AVIATION KEROSENE JET FUEL, JET A-1 DEF STAN 91-91)
Jet A-1 is a kerosene grade of fuel suitable for most turbine engined aircraft. It has a flash point minimum of 38 degrees C (100°F) and a freeze point maximum of -47 degrees C. It is widely available outside the U.S.A. The main specifications for Jet A-1 grade are the UK specification DEF STAN 91-91 (Jet A-1) Nato code F-35, (formerly DERD 2494) and the ASTM specification D1655 (Jet A-1).
TS-1 Regular Kerosene (RUSSIAN CIVIL AVIATION KEROSENE GOST 10227-86)
TS-1 is the main jet fuel grade available in Russian and CIS states. It is a kerosene type fuel with slightly higher volatility (flash point is 28C minimum) and lower freeze point (<-50C) compared to Jet A-1.
Jet A
Jet A is a kerosine grade fuel, normally only available in the U.S.A. It has the same flash point as Jet A-1 but a higher freeze point maximum (-40°C). It is supplied against the ASTM D1655 (Jet A) specification.
Jet B
Jet B is a distillate covering the naphtha and kerosene fractions. It can be used as an alternative to Jet A-1 but because it is more difficult to handle (higher flammability), there is only significant demand in very cold climates where its better cold weather performance is important. ASTM have a specification for Jet B but in Canada it is supplied against the Canadian Specification CAN/CGSB 3.23
