Wayne,
I didn't take offense, just wish that communication on this forum could be
professional without sarcasm, although I resorted to that low level in my
reply, for which I apologize( I shall attempt more restraint in the future).
By your last reply, I can only assume you didn't fully read my posts on the
isuse. I will repeat it, I do not advocate using plastic any plastic, just
explained some of the precautions necessary if one decides to use them.
Considering that most fuel containers sold are plastic, it is only reasonable
to assume someone or many do use them. If they do use them, the container must
be grounded to the aircraft or item being fueled.
One person said their container sat on the ground before fueling so it must
have discharged its static electricity before hand. It is essential to
recognize that static electricity is generated during the fueling process via
the passage of fuel through the container into the plane and that charge must
be dissipated via some means. If a good connection/contact is not made
betweent the container and plane during fueling, a high enought charge may
result in a spark which will be bad. My humble opinion based on 50 years of
teaching static electricity and designing lightning arresting systems for some
critical facilities is that static electricity can be generated in many items
that are considered nonconductors, ignoring that or not recoginizing it can and
has killed a lot of folks. It should also be recognized that even doing what
is considered proper in that area of grounding may not be enough to prevent a
catastrophy. A highly charged cloud can pass over while fueling and if there
is a corroded area of the plane that is not making good contact with the rest
of the plane that is grounded, a spark can occur between the corroded area and
the grounded area resulting in an explosion or fire. This has occurred on
tanker trucks that were grounded as per regulation.
Moral of the story is to do as much as one can to be safe but always be aware
that it may still not be enough. Be alert, some planes have pop up fuel
covers, make sure the hinge is not rusty or corroded as an arc can occur
between the cap and plane if the hinge is corroded and does not dissipate the
static charge. If there are dark clouds overhead, don't refuel until they are
gone.
Lee Browning
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