European airlines don get green light to use American-grade jet fuel, as di war between US and Israel with Iran dey cause wahala for supply. Di European Union and two big airline bodies don suggest say dis move fit help reduce di pressure wey dey for aviation fuel market.
Di International Air Transport Association (IATA) don say say if dem allow US-grade fuel for international flights, e fit help prevent shortage. Di European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) don also release safety guidance on how US supplies fit enter European market, plus di risks wey dey involved.
Meanwhile, di EU don tok say no regulatory wahala dey stop European airlines from using US-grade jet fuel, as long as dem do am safely. Di price of jet fuel wey most European airlines dey use don jump by half since di war start.
For one blog post, IATA director of flight and technical operations, Stuart Fox, warn say if di Middle East conflict continue, e no go take time before we see fuel shortage for some parts of di world.
Two main types of fuel dey for commercial aviation: Jet A-1, wey be di global standard for most international operations, and Jet A, wey dem dey use for North America. Both na kerosene and dem nearly di same, but Jet A-1 get lower freezing point pass Jet A. According to Fox, dis mean say Jet A-1 fit work better for long haul and polar routes.
Since di crisis start, supplies of Jet A-1 from Gulf region don reduce to small. Dis don affect Europe well, because Europe dey rely on imports from dat region. Increased shipments from US don dey help to cover di shortfall, but many US refineries no dey set up to produce Jet A-1, so di extra wey fit cross Atlantic dey limited.
Fox tok for im post: “European fuel supply fit come under pressure if di war for Middle East continue. Using Jet A, wey dem dey produce for large scale outside Gulf, fit be practical way to help ease pressure for existing supply chains.” He add say airlines for North America dey use Jet A every day and dem still dey serve communities for very cold regions, like parts of Alaska, by using fuel additives, plus planning and monitoring flights to ensure safety.
EASA don issue safety information bulletin wey dey provide guidance for fuel suppliers and aircraft and airport operators. Dem tok: “Potential introduction of Jet A for Europe or other parts of di world no go generate safety concerns if dem properly manage am.” But dem also warn say if dem introduce am without careful management, e fit cause aircraft to fly outside safe operating limits. Dem say risks fit increase if different fuel grades dey available for different airports, wey fit cause mixing of fuel grades and assumption mismatches.
Later for Friday, di EU tok: “No regulatory obligation dey wey mandate use of either fuel grade. No regulatory obstacles dey for use of Jet A fuel wey dem import to Europe, as long as dem properly manage and communicate am throughout di fuel supply chain to ensure highest standards of safe operation.” Earlier on Friday, British Airways owner IAG tok say dem no get issues with fuel availability for dia main markets, but suggest say problem fit come if di war continue. Dem tok: “If di current conflict continue to restrict flows of both crude oil and jet fuel from di Middle East, dem fit restrict supplies of jet fuel on global basis.”
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