Definition
The standardized steps used to safely add fuel to an aircraft, including positioning the aircraft, bonding it electrically to the fuel source to prevent static discharge, verifying the correct fuel type and grade, controlling the flow of fuel into the tanks, and confirming caps and panels are secured before flight.
Plain English
The set steps a pilot or fueler follows to put fuel into an airplane safely — making sure it is the right fuel, that static electricity cannot cause a spark, and that everything is closed up properly afterward.
Context Anchor
Seen during preflight planning, at the fuel pump or fuel truck, and in the aircraft’s operating handbook or checklist.
Why Pilots Care
Following these steps prevents fuel contamination, fire hazards from static, and ensures the correct fuel type and amount for safe flight.
Grounding Statement
Before flight, the pilot should be able to look at the aircraft and know that the right fuel was added safely and that the fuel system is closed, clean, and ready.
Intuition Check
Do not think of refueling procedures as simply “putting gas in the airplane.” In aviation, the term means a controlled safety process, not just filling a tank.
Example Sentence 1
Before connecting the fuel nozzle, the line crew followed standard refueling procedures and bonded the aircraft to the truck with a grounding cable.
Example Sentence 2
After refueling, the pilot checked the fuel caps and sampled the tanks as required by standard procedures.