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Ready for take-off

Protecting airport fuel lines from corrosion and contamination 

February 3, 2021

Even the slightest contamination of an aircraft’s fuel system can spell mid-air disaster. So it’s not hard to see why quality and reliability were so important for our customer’s fuel pipeline maintenance project at one of the largest airports in the Philippines. Having passed the initial test with “flying colors”, Atlas Copco Rental was asked to support the comprehensive maintenance of the airport’s entire fuel pipeline system over the course of 12 months. A project where performance but also flexibility was key. 

Safety first

Contaminated aircraft fuel can cause all kinds of problems ranging from corroded fuel cells and other system components to clogged filters, instrumentation failure and even the blockage of fuel supply to the engine. So it’s no exaggeration to claim that the cleaning and maintenance of an airport’s fuel pipeline can have a direct impact on aircraft safety! 

Clean and dry

To prevent corrosion and residue build-up inside the pipes that deliver fuel to the aircraft, the air used to dry them after cleaning and general maintenance must be 100% oil-free and as dry as possible. With a dew point of less than -40°C, to be precise. Which is about as dry as compressed air can get! 

Top of the line

Headed by Pia Palisoc Aba, Senior Sales Executive at Atlas Copco Philippines, our local team put together a full package including our state-of-the-art and extremely efficient PTS 916 oil-free compressor unit along with our PHS 1600 dryer. “To reassure the customer that the required level of dryness was delivered consistently, we also included an extremely accurate dew point meter, which our team monitored around the clock and in real time,” says Pia. “An optional extra that only proved the flawless performance of our package.”

A cautious approach

Photo of PTS916 &PHS1600 with aeroplane on site by AC Avila
In order to demonstrate the capacity of our equipment to meet the required standards, both the airport authorities and the contractor insisted on an initial 1-month trial period in a new area of the airport. The success of this initial project then paved the way for a more extensive maintenance operation that covered the entire airport site over the course of 1 year. “The project underwent several expansion stages between 2018 and early 2020. Thanks to the flexibility of the contract, the customer could very easily scale up their operations whenever required, and this despite the fact that the airport is located on a different airline to our main hub,” Pia explains. “Our solution therefore included a seamless logistics operation to ensure on-time delivery of the equipment and our team of operators.” A smooth operation from take-off to landing! And one that can be easily replicated at other airports in the region and around the world.

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At Atlas Copco, we have been turning industrial ideas into business-critical benefits since 1873. By listening to our customers and knowing their needs, we deliver value and innovate with the future in mind. 

Great ideas reinforce sustainable development. At Atlas Copco Specialty Rental, we team up with our customers to set up state-of-the-art temporary air, flow, steam and nitrogen solutions. Our passionate experts have extensive application and equipment knowledge. We understand our customers' needs and can provide a total solution for any industry, no matter if it is for emergencies or planned projects. We are a division of the Power Technique business area, headquartered in Boom, Belgium and offer specialty rental solutions under several brands around the globe.