Aircraft Refueller
What the work is
Fills aircraft with aviation fuel by operating a tanker truck or hydrant vehicle and connecting a fuel system to the aircraft fuel tank.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Operates fuelling vehicles and equipment to refuel aircraft according to specific fuel requirements
- Connects ground fuel storage tanks to aircraft by operating pumps and valves, and managing flow rates to prevent overfilling or underfilling
- Monitors fuel levels in storage tanks and ensures accurate and safe fuelling of aircraft
- Inspects fuelling equipment and reports any malfunctions or damage while following safety procedures and regulations
- Maintains records of fuel transactions, completes necessary paperwork and communicates with aircraft crew and ground personnel to coordinate fuelling operations
- Performs routine maintenance and cleaning of fuelling equipment
- Responds to fuel-related emergencies, such as spills or leaks, by executing emergency response procedures
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a regional airport apron where small jets are turned around, and a container wharf in the nearest port. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A plane is loaded, fuelled and pushed back right on time, and the pilot gives a wave
- A ship is emptied and refilled in a single smooth shift, with the whole gang in rhythm
- A clear dawn shift when the apron is quiet and the first flight of the day is yours
Hard days
- Wind, rain or heat on an open apron where the work does not stop for the weather
- A late flight that makes everything else bunch up behind it
- Heavy bags, early starts and a bay full of people who all need something at once
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 741932, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.