Following the success of last year’s event in Miami, the Aviation Fuel Handling Training Symposium was reprised at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel at LAX this past March.
The event, organized by Gammon Technical Products and supported by dozens of fueling equipment companies and related organizations through sponsorships, serves an important role in the industry by bringing together key people to share critical information in order to keep fueling equipment and practices as safe as possible
“In this industry, we have something unique. The public doesn’t know what we do. We’re, for the most part, unregulated by government,” Jim Gammon, president of Gammon Technical Products, said during the opening remarks of the 2018 symposium.
While few regulations may exist, many organizations are working to set standards so fueling and fuel equipment companies can assist the aviation industry safely.
Referring to aviation fueling as an unrecognized and unsung industry, Gammon credited volunteers at American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM), Air Transport Association (ATA), Airlines for America (A4A), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and its Fuel Quality Pool (IFQP), Joint Inspection Group (JIG), SAE International, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Energy Institute (EI) and many more for their efforts to keep aviation fueling as safe as possible.
“No one has ever been paid for this. No one has ever been recognized for it. So it’s been a labor of love to bring this symposium together and provide a means for people to communicate and share information and learn from each other,” Gammon said.
A large contingent of fueling professionals attended and participated in two and half days of fuel-related discussions from differential pressure, to hydrant cart and refueling vehicle maintenance, to meters and filter advancements.
Gammon discussed the symposium potentially becoming a biennial event, and maybe moving to another part of the country in an effort to attract even more attendees.
No matter what decisions are made regarding future dates and locations for the Aviation Fuel Handling Training Symposium, the high level of interest makes it clear an event like this serves the industry well.
