Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jet Fuel Attendant

🎯 Role Definition

A Jet Fuel Attendant is a safety-focused aviation ground services professional responsible for fueling aircraft, maintaining fuel quality and inventory, operating fuel trucks and hydrant systems, and executing strict environmental and regulatory compliance at airports. This role requires hands-on experience with fuel handling procedures, excellent communication with flight crews and ramp personnel, and the ability to respond quickly to operational changes and emergency situations while adhering to FAA, DOT, OSHA, and company policies.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Ramp Agent / Passenger Service Agent transitioning to fueling operations
Military fuel specialist or aviation refueling technician
Fuel Truck Driver or tanker operator with ground handling experience

Advancement To:

Lead Jet Fuel Attendant / Senior Fueler
Fueling Supervisor or Fuel Farm Coordinator
Fuel Operations Manager / Fuel Quality Manager
Ground Operations Manager or Airport Fueling Superintendent

Lateral Moves:

Fuel Quality Technician
Fuel Farm or Fuel Logistics Specialist
Ramp Supervisor or Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform safe and accurate aircraft fueling and defueling operations for jets and turboprops, following company manuals, airline-specific fueling procedures, and FAA regulations to ensure the correct fuel type, quantity, and quality are delivered to each aircraft.
Operate, position, and maneuver fuel trucks, tankers, and hydrant dispensers on the ramp, maintaining clearances from aircraft and ground equipment while coordinating movements with ramp control and the flight deck via standard radio protocols.
Conduct pre-fuel and post-fuel inspections of fuel delivery equipment, including hose assemblies, fittings, filters, meters, grounding cables, and emergency shutoffs, and report or tag out defective items for repair to prevent contamination or spills.
Sample, test, and document fuel quality using approved ASTM/API sampling procedures, colorimetry or test kits, and contamination checks; reject and quarantine suspect fuel and coordinate with fuel quality personnel for laboratory analysis when required.
Execute precise fuel load calculations based on load sheets, flight plans, aircraft weight-and-balance requirements, and dispatcher/flight crew inputs to ensure correct fueling volumes and compliance with aircraft performance limits.
Ground and bond aircraft properly before fueling; establish and verify continuity of grounding to eliminate static discharge risk and comply with grounding and bonding procedures for safe fuel transfer.
Maintain accurate fueling records and logs (electronic or paper), including delivery tickets, dipstick readings, meter calibrations, fuel reconciliations, and daily fuel inventory adjustments for auditability and regulatory compliance.
Respond immediately to fuel or hydraulic fluid spills, leaks, or other environmental incidents by initiating containment and cleanup protocols, deploying spill kits, notifying airport operations and environment teams, and completing incident reports per environmental permits and company policy.
Manage hydrant pit operations including unlock/lock procedures, pit maintenance checks, core valve operation, pressure monitoring, and coordination with hydrant system technicians for scheduled maintenance or repairs.
Provide outstanding customer service to flight crews, airline representatives, and airport partners by communicating fuel status, timing, special fueling requests (e.g., potable additives, cold-soak fuel, hot refuel authorization), and resolving discrepancies professionally and promptly.
Perform hot refueling or cold refueling procedures as required by airline and aircraft-specific protocols, ensuring compliance with safety briefings, personnel clearances, and police/airport authority permits when applicable.
Coordinate fueling tasks with ground support operations (tugs, GPU, de-icing, catering) to maintain on-time departures while adhering to safety buffers and ramp sequencing requirements.
Conduct routine maintenance and basic repairs on fueling equipment and fuel trucks, including filter replacement, meter calibration checks, visual inspections of hoses and valves, fluid level checks, battery maintenance, and preventive maintenance documentation.
Execute fuel inventory management tasks such as receiving and reconciling fuel deliveries, performing fuel farm checks, monitoring tank levels, and entering accurate data into fueling management systems to support purchasing and allocation decisions.
Participate in scheduled and surprise audits, safety inspections, and regulatory reviews; prepare required documentation and implement corrective action plans as directed by fuel quality or compliance teams.
Train and mentor junior fueling staff and new hires on safe fueling techniques, company SOPs, emergency response, and customer interaction best practices, including hands-on demonstrations and competency verification.
Follow hazardous materials (HAZMAT) and dangerous goods handling procedures when transporting fuel, including manifest completion, placarding, and adherence to DOT/ICAO/IATA rules for fuel-related shipments and fueling equipment.
Maintain clear and professional radio and interpersonal communication on ramp frequencies, relaying fueling status, safety holds, and completion of services to pilots, dispatch, and ground coordinators to prevent miscommunications that could delay operations.
Enforce and monitor the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, flame-resistant clothing, and hearing protection, and ensure fueling teams comply with respiratory, skin, and eye protection protocols when working with fuel additives or contaminated materials.
Support seasonal operations such as cold-weather fueling protocols, anti-icing fluid compatibility checks, and de-icing coordination to ensure fuel-handling processes account for temperature-related fuel behavior and additive requirements.
Maintain situational awareness and proactively implement risk mitigation measures during irregular operations—bad weather, wildlife hazards, runway closures, or emergency aircraft recovery—to ensure fueling operations continue safely and efficiently.

Secondary Functions

Assist in fuel-related administrative tasks including invoice verification, fuel billing support, and entry of fueling transactions into enterprise resource systems to support accounting and airline reconciliation.
Help coordinate and schedule preventative maintenance work orders for fuel trucks, hydrant pits, filters, and fuel farm equipment in partnership with maintenance technicians and third-party vendors.
Participate in safety committees, hazard assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing fuel-related incidents, improving turnaround times, and optimizing fuel consumption tracking.
Support airport and airline environmental compliance programs by tracking fuel handling metrics, waste disposal manifests, and necessary permits for above-ground and underground storage tanks.
Provide backup support for related ground operations roles (ramp handling, marshalling, basic GSE operation) during peak times or staffing shortages to ensure uninterrupted ground services.
Maintain supply levels for spill kits, PPE, fuel sampling kits, and basic repair items, and place purchase requests when stock levels fall below defined thresholds.
Assist fuel quality and lab technicians with bulk sample collection for root-cause analysis following contamination events or failed quality checks.
Participate in cross-training programs to broaden skillsets across fueling systems, fuel farm operations, and fuel quality testing to increase operational flexibility and career development.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

FAA and airport ramp fueling procedures and compliance with FAA/DOT/OSHA regulations related to aircraft fueling operations.
Operation of fuel service trucks, tankers, hydrant dispensers, and portable pump units with proven ability to safely maneuver on active ramps.
Fuel quality sampling and testing skills (ASTM/API standards), including visual inspection, water and particulate checks, and use of handheld fuel test kits.
Experience with hydrant pit operation, pit valve procedures, and hydrant fueling system maintenance.
Knowledge of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) handling, DOT tank vehicle regulations, and proper placarding and documentation for fuel transport.
Competence in fuel inventory management, fuel reconciliation, delivery ticket reconciliation, and use of fueling management software systems.
Basic vehicle and equipment preventive maintenance tasks: filter changes, hose inspection, meter calibration verification, and battery checks.
Radio communication protocols, SOP adherence for interaction with flight crews, dispatch, and ground control.
Spill response and environmental containment techniques, including use of spill kits and incident reporting procedures.
Ability to perform load/quantity calculations, read fuel gauges, and interpret aircraft fueling symbols and placards.
Valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL Class B with tanker endorsement) where required and airport driving permits/badges.
Familiarity with safety management systems (SMS), permit-to-work processes, and permit-required hot work or hot refuel authorizations.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and commitment to fuel quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.
Excellent verbal communication and customer service skills when interacting with flight crews, airline representatives, and ramp teams.
Situational awareness and the ability to make rapid safety-focused decisions in dynamic ramp environments.
Teamwork and collaboration skills to coordinate with maintenance, quality, dispatch, and ground handling colleagues.
Reliability, punctuality, and the ability to perform under time pressure during tight turnaround windows.
Problem-solving skills to troubleshoot fueling equipment issues and implement immediate corrective actions.
Integrity and responsibility when handling hazardous materials and reporting incidents or discrepancies.
Adaptability to changing schedules, shift work, nights, weekends, and holiday operations common in aviation.
Training and mentoring ability to onboard junior colleagues and disseminate best practices.
Time management and organizational skills to keep fueling logs, inventory records, and compliance documentation accurate and up to date.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED; equivalent vocational training or demonstrated on-the-job experience in fueling operations.

Preferred Education:

Technical certificate or vocational coursework in aviation ground operations, logistics, or a related field.
Certifications or formal coursework in fuel handling, HAZMAT, or aircraft refueling safety.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Aviation Technology / Ground Support Operations
Mechanical or Automotive Technology
Environmental Health & Safety
Logistics, Supply Chain, or Transportation

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years of aviation fueling, ground support, tanker operation, or related fueling experience; entry-level candidates with strong training may be considered.

Preferred:

3+ years of experience in commercial airport fueling or military aviation refueling roles.
Experience operating hydrant systems, fuel farms, and performing fuel quality sampling.
CDL Class B with tanker endorsement and airport driver’s badge preferred where driving fuel trucks is required.
Prior experience with FAA/DOT/OSHA compliance, spill response, and fuel inventory management strongly preferred.