AN EMJ FO EXPRESSES HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE FUEL TRUCKS ARE BEING PARKED WITH THE MUFFLER IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE FUEL PORT.

Narrative

6 MONTHS AGO I SENT A RPT DETAILING UNSAFE REFUELING PROCEDURES AT ORD. AT ORD THE TANKERS WILL NOSE IN NEXT TO THE REFUELING PORT SO THAT THE IGNITION SOURCES (IE ENGINE AND MUFFLER) ARE THE PART OF THE TANKER CLOSEST TO THE REFUELING PORT. I FOUND THIS METHOD OF REFUELING DEFEATS SAFETY DESIGN OF THE TANKER WHICH HAS THE MUFFLER POSITIONED UNDER THE FRONT BUMPER TO KEEP IGNITION SOURCES AWAY FROM THE REFUELING PORTS. I WAS TOLD THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL AVAILABLE TO ACT AS GUIDES FOR BACKING THE TANKERS UP TO THE AIRCRAFT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE TANKER MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THE TANKER WAS SAFE TO REFUEL FROM EITHER END. IN OVER 3 DECADES IN AVIATION I HAVE NEVER SEEN REFUELING DONE THIS WAY. AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE? CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE FUEL TRUCK OPERATED BY COMPANY HAS CONTINUALLY PULLED FORWARD TO ACFT DUE TO LACK OF STAFFING TO HELP GUIDE THE TRUCK IN BACKWARDS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE MUFFLER IS ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND COULD IGNITE THE FUMES. THE RPTR CLAIMS THAT THE TRUCKS ARE WITHIN 18 INCHES OF THE ACFT.