The traditional means of simply tossing samples in the tie-downs beneath the wings, while a great way to knock off any Redbacks that may be planning an ambush, contaminates the soil due to the hydrocarbons, and more importantly lead, in AvGas.
BAC Airports estimates that 3000 Litres – or more than 13 drums – of fuel is introduced to the environment as disposed fuel samples at Bankstown each year, constituting a polluting activity that needs to cease.
Desiree Lammerts, Environmental Manager of BAC Airports, told Australian Flying that, while tossed out fuel samples do partially evaporate, the lead component is left behind on the ground.
“Even if 100 per cent of the hydrocarbon evaporated, the lead still remains in the soil,” Lammerts explains.
To address this environmental risk, BAC Airports has called for operators to initiate a system for disposing of their fuel samples in an environmentally safer manner.
Lammerts says its vital that flying schools in particular move quickly on this, with some including the University of NSW and Schofields already in agreement.
“Flying schools influence future generations of pilots, so I think they’re a really good place to start.
"We’re asking the operators to identify how they can collect it and whether they can store it.
“Shell Aviation have said they’re quite happy to come around and collect it.
"Depending on how it’s managed there’s different ways of doing it.
"As an airport community we can work through it together – we’re not asking people to do it totally in isolation.
"It’s a cultural change, and we all have to do it.”
Bankstown isn’t the first airport to address this issue.
Archerfield is also calling for change, while steps were taken long ago to address the issue at Jandakot, where it is even more paramount as the aerodrome is situated over a ground water catchment area.
For more information or to discuss options and proposals for the collection and disposal of fuel test samples at Bankstown email Desiree Lammerts at desiree.lammerts@bankstownairport.com.au or call (02) 9796 2300.