Aerospace/Aviation/Fuel Contamination

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Expert: - 4/6/2010


Question
Pilots are taught to examine fuel samples drawn from the bottom of fuel tanks before flight in case of water accumulating from moist air after fuel is withdrawn during flight also to avoid leaving fuel tanks empty. If this is real why do cars not suffer from water in the fuel since drivers take none of these precautions?

Answer
Hello Clive,
I don't know much about car engines, but the thing is with airplane fuel, if water does get in the engine and cause the engine to stop, it's much more serious than water stopping a car engine. The airplane obviously can't just pull over to the side of the road in case water did get into the engine and cause it to stop. But, you might like to try asking the question about what a little amount of water would do to a car. Cars may have fuel filters that would get the water out if a small amount got into the fuel, but like I said, I'm really not sure.
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful to you!
Laura

Aerospace/Aviation

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Laura Laster

Expertise

I can help with questions about aviation disasters, aircraft operations especially general aviation and King Air information, aviation safety, and education questions on how to get into an aviation career. I can also answer general aviation questions as I am a commercial multi-engine pilot. I cannot answer questions about flight training or MBA schools in countries other than the USA or provide advice for non-US citizens interested in flight training. I cannot answer questions advising you what school to choose. I have no experience with aeronautical engineering so I cannot answer questions relating to engineering or schooling for aeronautical engineers. PLEASE don't ask me questions about any kind of engineering because it is outside my area of expertise, and I will NOT answer your question. I also cannot help you to choose a master's program for study as I do not have a master's degree in aviation. I cannot help with MBA advice.

Experience

I have been studying aviation disasters through doing my own research and a lot of reading since I was 13 or 14 years old. I am very interested in aviation safety and also am a commercial, multi-engine pilot. I am a dispatch manager at a private university working in their flight training department. I also have worked as an operations mamager at a small charter airline and was involved in getting the airline certificated under Part 121 rules. I was formerly a flight operations division manager for a company operating a large fleet of King Air aircraft (60) and so I have some business aviation experience as well as having flight instructed for one year after college. My operations manager job frequently involved coordinating international trips for aerial survey clients and hiring qualified pilots to fly aerial survey missions.

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Science with Flight Management Concentration: LeTourneau University (2004) :: Dispatch Certificate: Sheffield School of Aeronautics (2010) :: Commercial Pilot: Single and Multi Engine Land, Instrument Rating :: Flight Instructor: Single, Multi and Instrument :: Ground Instructor: Basic and Advanced

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