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Air bp’s safe2go platform is a unique cloud-based, digital solution that provides an engineering barrier designed to reduce the risk of misfuelling.
Each year, globally, Air bp fuelling operators refuel around one million aircraft ‘overwing’ using a fuelling nozzle. Overwing fuelled aircraft are typically small aircraft with 19 seats or less. Overwing fuelling carries an inherent risk of delivering the incorrect grade of fuel to an aircraft’s engine(s), a serious safety hazard known as misfuelling. This is a primary safety concern within the industry.
Air bp’s safe2go platform (formerly known as Airfield Automation) is a technically ambitious, innovative, cloud-based, digital solution. It uses a wide range of state-of-the-art technology to provide an engineering barrier designed to reduce the risk of misfuelling.
To date, the technology has been used in over a million overwing fuellings through the ‘safe2go’ misfuel prevention app, with around half of those taking place in Australia. First rolled out in May 2018, the platform is used at more than 500 locations in 44 countries. Over 40 airports in Australia including Air bp’s newest location at Avalon Airport use the platform.
So, what are its components and how does it work? The system has four main components: the safe2go app, fuelling vehicle hardware, databases and a portal.
The system fuelling vehicle hardware includes: a handheld device with the safe2go app; vehicle black box hard-wired to the vehicle control; handheld device vehicle cradle with a near field communication (NFC) chip that allows two-way communication and a printer with card swipe. Digitising this process is an advancement, as most sites used a manual, paper-based system for managing fuel delivery receipts and reading customer card details.
The safe2go app systematically leads the operator through completing an ‘enhanced three-way fuel grade cross check’ which involves confirming the fuel request form, checking the decal, and confirming the correct fuel grade in the truck or fixed equipment. In addition to providing an engineering barrier, these checks provide more layers of protection, aimed at reducing the potential for misfuelling.
It doesn’t stop there. The safe2go app provides multiple benefits across the refuelling process:
It automatically captures delivery receipt data which is designed to save time and reduce data and invoice errors.
Customer credit list checks and two of Air bp’s three fuel grades cross checks are also automated which simplifies the process for operators and customers alike.
The improved system functionality also enables back-office process efficiency by automatically storing electronic copies of delivery receipts if requested by a customer.
It also adds value for Air bp customers. safe2go + flight data services allows pilots to communicate in real time with fuelling operators to specify their fuelling requirement and ultimately sign off the delivery receipt electronically.
In other parts of the world, the system has already been licenced to several third-party customers who benefit from the innovative technology.
Air bp continues to introduce new features to its safe2go system that support its plans to continue increasing airport safety while boosting operational efficiency. Air bp was also honoured to receive three prestigious awards at the 2020 UK Real IT Awards in the UK for its innovative safe2go technology (formerly known as Airfield Automation): ‘Excellence in Application’, ‘Product Innovation’ and Overall Winner’.
For more information on Air bp’s safe2go fuel data please contact: [email protected].
