Careless Linemen

How do the rest of you deal with careless linemen? The kind who scratch
your airplane or chip the paint because they are either careless or have not
been properly trained on how to avoid damaging aircraft when refueling 'em.

Case in point - this afternoon I stopped by the airport to prep for a trip
to the beach tomorrow. I grabbed a couple of maps and the handheld gps from
the airplane while the lineman was getting ready to fuel the airplane. By
the time I grabbed those things, the lineman had already filled the left
tank, and there was a brand spankin' new paint chip near the fuel filler on
the tank. How do I know it was brand new? Because I'd just wiped off a nice
collection of bugs from the airplane, and it wasn't chipped then... Anyway,
I eased over to see how he was coming with the other tank, and he had the
entire 10" long nozzle in the right tank and was using a notch in the fuel
nozzle's handle to catch the edge of the fuel filler neck to provide a
mechanical stop.

I say "hey, let me show you something" and show him that the sharp corner of
the casting is resting on the fuel filler. He pulls the nozzle out of the
tank, and there is a noticable mark on the paint where he was resting the
nozzle. He said he didn't realize he was doing that. I didn't point out
the new chip on the other wing, which I speculate was caused by either the
same technique, or the other technique I've seen many times, where the
lineman puts the nozzle into the tank at a 45 degree angle, and the weight
of the nozzle rests on the painted edge of the fuel filler.

This is my home airport, and the guy was nice enough, so I didn't make an
issue out of it, but it is really frustrating to have avoidable dings and
chips on your airplane when it costs $5k or $10k to have the thing
repainted...

BTW, self serve is not an option at my home field, which is why I usually go
elsewhere for fuel. That and the high prices that are caused by having to
pay the "fuel truck guy" to hang around the airport all day long when there
really isn't much fuel being sold...

Also, now that I'm giving this more thought, I need to see if the guy dented
the bottom of my fuel tanks by sticking the nozzle so far in there...
Sheesh...

Talk to the FBO manager. It's his job to insure proper training of his
employees. Venting here may make you feel better but it won't get the
message to the right person.

kontiki wrote:
Talk to the FBO manager. It's his job to insure proper training of his
employees. Venting here may make you feel better but it won't get the
message to the right person.

Unless it's a facility that I am personally familiar with the
staff, I don't let them fuel the Navion. The fueling is
tricky on my plane. You can overflow the filler and still leave
the mains about 16 gallons short. The aux tank is a boobytrap
as well...unless you're used to the thing you'll dump a half
a gallon of fuel on yourself when it hits the top.

Kyle Boatright wrote:
How do the rest of you deal with careless linemen? The kind who scratch
your airplane or chip the paint because they are either careless or have not
been properly trained on how to avoid damaging aircraft when refueling 'em.



I've done my share of ramp ratting and I'll remind you the FBO isn't paying that
guy enough to live on. OTOH, most of the guys on the ramp like aviation and
wouldn't knowingly damage an aircraft. I'd say education would be the answer
you're looking for.

I congratulate you on keeping your temper. What many people never seem to
consider is what motivates others. When somebody shows me their ass, I tend to
look for ways to pay them back. When somebody's nice to me and I've screwed up,
I look for ways to make it up to them. You definitely want to be in the latter
category.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE

Everything you said + the only way to completely avoid such stuff is to
insist on doing it yourself.

As a taildragger guy, I long ago realized that if I didn't take care of
all ramp movements that the 'new guy' would end up puncturing my fabric
or worse. Heck, at larger airports I often seem to be the first
taildragger they've seen. e.g. "hey, you know our tow bar doesn't fit
on that" "yep, that's why I have to taxi it over to the weeds covered
tie downs"

Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
Kyle Boatright wrote:

How do the rest of you deal with careless linemen? The kind who scratch
your airplane or chip the paint because they are either careless or have not
been properly trained on how to avoid damaging aircraft when refueling 'em.




I've done my share of ramp ratting and I'll remind you the FBO isn't paying that
guy enough to live on. OTOH, most of the guys on the ramp like aviation and
wouldn't knowingly damage an aircraft. I'd say education would be the answer
you're looking for.

I congratulate you on keeping your temper. What many people never seem to
consider is what motivates others. When somebody shows me their ass, I tend to
look for ways to pay them back. When somebody's nice to me and I've screwed up,
I look for ways to make it up to them. You definitely want to be in the latter
category.

Tell you what I suggest for the futu Lay hands on enough rubber or soft
plastic to cover the area of the filler with a good margin around it, and
cut out a circle just a tad larger than the filler opening. Tell the lineboy
to put it in place before inserting the nozzle. I'll bet you could go to a
second-hand store and pick up place mats, dish mats, etc that would do the
job for pennies.

Bob Gardner

"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message
...
How do the rest of you deal with careless linemen? The kind who scratch
your airplane or chip the paint because they are either careless or have
not been properly trained on how to avoid damaging aircraft when refueling
'em.

Case in point - this afternoon I stopped by the airport to prep for a trip
to the beach tomorrow. I grabbed a couple of maps and the handheld gps
from the airplane while the lineman was getting ready to fuel the
airplane. By the time I grabbed those things, the lineman had already
filled the left tank, and there was a brand spankin' new paint chip near
the fuel filler on the tank. How do I know it was brand new? Because I'd
just wiped off a nice collection of bugs from the airplane, and it wasn't
chipped then... Anyway, I eased over to see how he was coming with the
other tank, and he had the entire 10" long nozzle in the right tank and
was using a notch in the fuel nozzle's handle to catch the edge of the
fuel filler neck to provide a mechanical stop.

I say "hey, let me show you something" and show him that the sharp corner
of the casting is resting on the fuel filler. He pulls the nozzle out of
the tank, and there is a noticable mark on the paint where he was resting
the nozzle. He said he didn't realize he was doing that. I didn't point
out the new chip on the other wing, which I speculate was caused by either
the same technique, or the other technique I've seen many times, where the
lineman puts the nozzle into the tank at a 45 degree angle, and the weight
of the nozzle rests on the painted edge of the fuel filler.

This is my home airport, and the guy was nice enough, so I didn't make an
issue out of it, but it is really frustrating to have avoidable dings and
chips on your airplane when it costs $5k or $10k to have the thing
repainted...

BTW, self serve is not an option at my home field, which is why I usually
go elsewhere for fuel. That and the high prices that are caused by having
to pay the "fuel truck guy" to hang around the airport all day long when
there really isn't much fuel being sold...

Also, now that I'm giving this more thought, I need to see if the guy
dented the bottom of my fuel tanks by sticking the nozzle so far in
there... Sheesh...

"Bob Gardner" wrote in message ...
Tell you what I suggest for the futu Lay hands on enough rubber or soft
plastic to cover the area of the filler with a good margin around it, and
cut out a circle just a tad larger than the filler opening. Tell the
lineboy to put it in place before inserting the nozzle. I'll bet you could
go to a second-hand store and pick up place mats, dish mats, etc that
would do the job for pennies.

Bob Gardner

That's a great idea and if you want to spend $19.95 there is a company
that sells one if you don't want to make your own.
http://www.theproperaircraft.com/prod7.html
Look about 2/3's down the page.

David

Be careful with the cheap ones... if the wing is hot, it may stick and
leave a residue on your wing.

"FLAV8R" == FLAV8R writes:
FLAV8R That's a great idea and if you want to spend $19.95

Wow! I guess that's the TSO'd version.

Tell you what I suggest for the futu Lay hands on enough rubber or soft
plastic to cover the area of the filler with a good margin around it, and
cut out a circle just a tad larger than the filler opening. Tell the
lineboy to put it in place before inserting the nozzle.

The most damage I've ever had inflicted by a lineman was due to a guy using
one of those rubber mats.

It had been "stored" in the gravel adjacent to the fuel pump, and
(unbeknownst to him) the underside had become caked with sand and small
stones. That sand- and rock-paper was ground into the paint by the weight
of the line-guy's arm and the edge of the fuel filler spout.

It seems silly to have to say it, but if your FBO uses a rubber mat make
sure they brush off the loose stuff before laying it on your wing.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"