Refuelling a big problem for small planes at George airport

GEORGE NEWS - The avgas (aviation gas) refuelling facility for light aircraft at George Airport is insufficient and potentially dangerous, but Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) and fuel supplier Air BP do not seem to realise that there is need and urgency for a more streamlined and safer system for the growing number of general aviation operators based here.

This is according to Glenn van Heerden, a private plane owner who rents a hangar in the general aviation area at George Airport.

He says frustration leads to some operators choosing to fly to Mossel Bay for refuelling to avoid long queues and waiting times at the refuelling facility at George.

"In addition, there is also the potential for an accident between a general aviation aircraft and a scheduled aircraft (airliner) due to restricted space," he says.

The apron where airliners park for passengers to embark and disembark is very close to the avgas refuelling facility.

"When four or more scheduled airliners are parked in the apron while at the same time small aircraft are trying to refuel with avgas, it becomes a problem. This is because the location of the refuelling facility is outdated due to growth in air traffic to the George area," says Van Heerden.

"When I refuelled recently, there were three scheduled aircraft parked in the apron and I was second in line in the avgas line. Within half an hour, there were two more planes lined up behind me with the last plane parked into the taxiway.

"There is no room for parallel parking because then you encroach into the scheduled aircraft parking area. Ahead of me was a bakkie and tank trailer from the George Flying College filling up 2 000 litres and this took over 55 minutes. If more planes arrived, where would they have lined up? This is a true dilemma for the air traffic controllers and also a major safety issue."

A 2 500-litre tank that is also filled up at the avgas refuelling facility.