Plain English Meaning

Putting fuel into an aircraft so it has enough to fly the planned trip.

Full Definition

In aviation training contexts, refueling refers to the act of replenishing an aircraft's fuel supply, typically by adding aviation gasoline (avgas) or jet fuel to its tanks before, between, or after flights. In a broader instructional sense, the term is sometimes used figuratively to describe restoring readiness or capability, but in operational use it always means the physical process of putting fuel into an aircraft.

Context Anchor

A pilot encounters refueling during preflight planning, at fuel stops, after landing, or any time the aircraft needs more fuel before the next flight.

Derivation

From the prefix 're-' (Latin, meaning 'again') plus 'fuel' (from Old French 'fouaille,' for a fire). Literally 'to fuel again' -- to replace what has been used up.