Experience with Static Dissipator Additive in Aviation Fuels

This is a review paper summarizing much that has appeared elsewhere on the nature of the electrostatic fuel charging hazard, but more particularly describing the background to the flight evaluation of and subsequent service experience with aviation fuels containing static dissipator additive ASA-3. Although first introduced into aviation turbine fuel on a test basis by the Royal Canadian Air Force eight years ago, static dissipator additive has been increasingly used, particularly since its mandatory requirement in the British D. Eng. R.D. 2494 specification in the fall of 1968. With a number of major international airlines calling for fuel supplies to contain the approved additive as an additional safety measure, some 8000 million gal of such fuel have now been supplied by various fuel suppliers at over 150 airfields outside the United States. The paper discusses various aspects of this experience, particularly those concerned with the distribution and handling of fuels containing static dissipator additive ASA-3.