Business Aircraft Ops to India: Fuelling & Security

When you operate to India, fuelling, security and ground handling are generally reliable, on time, and economical at most larger airports.

At smaller airfields, however, you may’ve access to just a single fuel supplier. An advance arrangement of uplift and fuel credit often becomes a most essential consideration.

The following is a summary of what you need to know:

1.      Fuel uplifts:

Most of the airports in India avail fuel by fuel trucks.

On the other hand smaller airfields have fuel trucks available during airport operation hours.

2.      Fuel vendor options:

Major airports of entry in India generally have 3 different fuel suppliers available on the field.

On the other hand smaller airports have two and in some cases one fuelling option.

3.      Fuel pricing and credit:

 Prices are based per litre and normally adjusted after every fifteen days. The price you pay will be the cost of fuel with additional taxes.

Accepted forms of payment include fuel carnets and you need to show your fueling card.

Note that consumer credit cards aren’t accepted for fuel payment in India.

Your ground handler may extend credit for fuel uplift only if he or she has made a pre-payment to the fuel supplier in advance.

4.      Fuel tax considerations:

If you plan to make more than one stop in India, be aware that you will be charged tax on fuel upon arrival.

 Customs will send an agent to your aircraft to know volume of fuel onboard. This way they can calculate due taxes accordingly.

 When you make more than one stop in India, then in that case you need to land with minimum fuel.

Note that theses fuel taxes don’t apply when you make just one stop for either destination in India. 

5.      Storage, testing, & fuel delivery:

Fuel is stored in underground tanks and in fuel farms for fuelling purposes at smaller airports.

Prior to each fuel delivery, the fueler tests the fuel and they provide the fuel quality check to the crew.

Note that at larger airports there’re specific ramp areas where fuel is available. For example at New Delhi Airport, this option is available.

At smaller airfields, fuel trucks will come out to your aircraft. In this aspect, airport ground handling companies play a very significant role.

6.      VVIP fuel considerations:

Special fuel arrangements are made in the case of VVIP flights, for example those of a prime minister, president, or king.

Fuel can be tested in advance, and the tanks can be sealed until time of fuel uplift.

If you are operating a very important flight, then it’s become important that the ground handling company & the airport police should aware of these arrangements.

7.      Airport security in India:

Airports in India maintain adequate levels of security. Also security has been considerably increased over the past few years.

All airports in India have adequate perimeter fencing with proper airside access controls.

8.      Security screening:

Upon arrival in India, crew members & passengers should go through metal detector screening while luggage is screened via X-ray.

A similar security screening process takes place during pre-departure.

Conclusion:

Fuel arrangements are made available in most airports in the country, and services are therefore becoming more efficient.

This reduces turnaround time for your flight. Ground handling service provider companies in India play a very important role in these aspects.

About Author:

At vision Aviation Global, Our professional staffs offer a complete service package to meet each client’s specific requirements and needs at all airports.

We provide complete Airport ground handling services in India through authorized ground handlers.