25A. Fuelling of aircraft- (1) No person shall fill or replenish the fuel tanks of an aircraft from vehicles or vessels containing petroleum in bulk or from fuel hydrant installations except from vehicles or installations of a type approved by the Chief Inspector of Explosives or from barges licensed under the Petroleum Rules, 2002.
(2) During fuelling operations, which may include filling or draining of fuel tanks, the following precautions shall be observed :-
(a) Fuelling of aircraft shall be done outdoors and not less than 15 meters from any building.
(b) A " NO SMOKING" notice shall be prominently displayed.
(c) Smoking or use of an appliance employing naked flame or use of an appliance capable of producing a spark or in any other way igniting fuel vapours shall not be permitted within 30 meters of the aircraft or fuelling equipment.
(d) Aircraft engines shall not be started or turned and ignition switches shall be placed in the "OFF" position.
(e) Aircraft electrical radar and radio systems shall not be operated and the switches relating thereto shall remain in the "OFF" position:
Provided that this clause shall not apply to electrical switches controlling the following circuits :
(i) power and light essential for fuelling operations;
(ii) minimum amount of cabin lighting; and
(iii) steady parking lights. Such switches shall not be operated during the fuelling operations.
(f) The use of ground power supply units, air-conditioning units, tractors and similar equipment shall be permissible subject to compliance with the following conditions:-
(i) Flexible training cables suitable for use in hazardous areas shall be used.
(ii) They shall be located outside the Danger Zone. "Danger Zone" is defined as the area within the largest polygon obtainable by joining points 3 meters away from the wings and the fuelling vehicle.
(iii) The units, including the associated electrical equipment, shall be flame-proof and of a type approved by the Chief Inspector of Explosives, otherwise they shall be stationed at a distance of not less than 15 meters, in the case of gasoline or wide out fuels and 6 meters in the case of straight kerosine, from the aircraft and the fuelling vehicle.
(iv) They shall not be switched "ON" or "OFF" during fuel transfer.
(g) The fuelling equipment and the aircraft shall be bonded to each other and both shall be earthed.
(h) No person other than the staff of the operator, fuelling company and officials of the Civil Aviation Department, Customs and Police, shall be permitted within 15 meters of the aircraft.
(i) Passengers may be permitted to embark, disembark, or remain in the cabin subject to the following conditions :-
(i) an attendant shall remain on duty in the cabin of the aircraft. The attendant shall ensure that no smoking takes place or other source of ignition is allowed to occur and shall assist in the removal of passengers in the event of fire;
(ii) the passenger loading ramp shall be correctly positioned at the cabin exit door and adequate provision shall be made to maintain the equilibrium of the aircraft in case all passengers attempt to leave by one exit;
(iii) in case of marine aircraft, adequate means of water transport shall be stationed at cabin exit door.
(j) The handling of freight and baggage in and around the aircraft shall not proceed simultaneously with fuelling unless adequate precautions have been taken to eliminate fire risk.
(k) No aircraft maintenance shall be conducted which may provide a source of ignition for fuel vapour during fuelling operations.
(l) Fire extinguishers of adequate capacity and of suitable type, approved by the Director-General shall be available for immediate use near the aircraft.
(m) In the event of fuel being spilled, fuelling must cease and the engine of the ground power supply units must be stopped, but the electrical circuits and switches should on no account be touched except for the purpose of stopping the power unit. Prior to recommencing fuelling, action must be taken to clean the spilled fuel. Fuel must not be washed into sewers or drains.
(n) Fuelling operations shall cease when a turbo-jet aircraft manouvres so as to bring the rear jet outlets within 43 meters of the fuelling equipment or the aircraft.
NOTE - The requirements of clause (f) of sub-rule (2) above shall not apply to the use of ground batteries as an auxiliary source of electric supply to the aircraft provided they are not connected or disconnected during fuelling operation.
[Inserted by Notification No. 1-A/15-39, dated 7-12-1939 and amended by GSR No. 524 dated 23-4-1959 and GSR 481(E) dated 15-05-2017
.]