Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jet Fuel Inspector

🎯 Role Definition

The Jet Fuel Inspector is a quality assurance professional responsible for ensuring aviation turbine fuel (Jet A, Jet A-1, Jet B, AVGAS where applicable) meets regulatory, specification and customer requirements through scheduled and ad-hoc sampling, laboratory and field testing, supplier and terminal audits, and rigorous documentation of chain-of-custody and corrective actions. This role requires strong knowledge of ASTM and industry fuel specifications (e.g., ASTM D1655, DEF STAN, MIL-PRF where applicable), hands-on experience with fuel testing devices (density meters, flash point testers, water detectors, GC), and the ability to coordinate with operations, suppliers and regulatory authorities to maintain uninterrupted, safe fuel supply to aircraft.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Fuel Handler / Refuelling Technician
Laboratory Technician (petroleum/chemistry)
Quality Control Technician (fuel or petrochemical sector)

Advancement To:

Fuel Quality Supervisor / Manager
Senior Quality Assurance Engineer (Aviation Fuels)
Airport Fuel Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Specialist
Field Service Technician (fuel testing equipment)
Terminal Operations Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform scheduled and on-demand sampling of aviation turbine fuel at receipt points (tank farms, road tankers, barges, hydrant pits and aircraft refuelers) following strict chain-of-custody procedures and industry sampling standards to ensure sample integrity from source to laboratory.
Conduct comprehensive visual and physical inspections of fuel storage tanks, hydrant systems, truck loading and offloading operations, filter/separator systems, and dispensing equipment to identify contamination, leaks, or system failures that could affect fuel quality.
Execute onsite field tests including water detection (interface and centrifuge testing), visual clarity and sediment checks, temperature measurement, density/relative density using ASTM methods, and flash point determinations where applicable to rapidly assess fuel acceptability prior to use.
Collect, label and transport fuel samples to the laboratory according to ISO/IEC 17025 and company chain-of-custody procedures, accurately documenting sample origin, time, ambient conditions, and personnel involved to preserve traceability.
Coordinate and perform laboratory analyses using standardized ASTM/API test methods (for example ASTM D1655, ASTM D93, ASTM D4052, ASTM D4307, ASTM D613, and related tests) and verify analytical results for properties such as distillation, freezing point, viscosity, sulfur content, and hydrocarbon composition.
Operate and maintain fuel quality instrumentation including density meters/RBD, gas chromatographs (GC-FID), kinematic viscometers, flash point testers, FTIR spectrometers, turbidity meters and water detection centrifuges, ensuring calibration and preventive maintenance schedules are met.
Review analytical data, compare test results against specification limits (customer, FAA, ICAO, IATA), and make go/no-go recommendations to fuel operations and flight line personnel to prevent out-of-specification fuel from reaching aircraft.
Investigate and lead root-cause analysis for quality incidents or returns, coordinate physical inspections, re-sampling and re-testing, and drive corrective and preventive actions with suppliers, terminals and internal stakeholders to resolve contamination or specification deviation events.
Maintain meticulous records of tests, inspections, audits, calibrations, non-conformances, and corrective actions in the fuel quality management system and generate clear, professional reports for operations, suppliers and regulatory audits.
Execute supplier and terminal audits, including review of storage practices, cleanliness programs, filter/separator maintenance, water drainage, microbiological control, and chain-of-custody practices, and report findings with recommended remediation.
Oversee fuel receipt acceptance procedures at airports and terminals, including verification of transport documentation, inspection of delivery vehicles, sampling before and after transfer, and validation of product identity to prevent cross-contamination or mis-delivery.
Ensure compliance with applicable aviation, environmental and hazardous materials regulations (FAA, ICAO, IATA, DOT, local civil aviation authority) and internal company procedures, escalating compliance risks when necessary and supporting regulatory inspections.
Manage on-call responsibilities for fuel quality events, provide rapid response sampling and testing at remote locations, coordinate emergency handling and containment measures, and advise operations on safe fuel use or grounding of fuel lots.
Provide training and technical oversight for refueling crews, tanker drivers and operations personnel on proper sampling techniques, contamination prevention, hydrant pit cleanliness, filter/separator checks and chain-of-custody documentation to reduce fuel quality risk.
Liaise directly with airline customers, maintenance organizations and flight operations to communicate fuel quality status, obtain approvals for use or disposition, and coordinate sampling during irregular operations or incidents.
Validate, update and implement fuel handling and inspection procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and inspection checklists to reflect new regulatory requirements, supplier changes, or lessons learned from incidents.
Manage quality control inventory including consumables, certified reference materials and spare parts for field and laboratory equipment, and ensure timely procurement to avoid testing delays.
Supervise or coordinate external laboratory testing when in-house capabilities are exceeded, ensure third-party labs are ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, and review external analytical reports for consistency and conformity with specifications.
Maintain and report KPIs for fuel quality programs such as sampling coverage, out-of-specification rates, turnaround time for testing, corrective action closure times, and supplier performance metrics to senior management.
Participate in cross-functional project teams for infrastructure upgrades (hydrant systems, filtration, tank cleaning), new fuel blends introduction (biofuel blends, FAME considerations), and procurement evaluation of suppliers based on quality performance metrics.
Implement and monitor microbiological control programs (growth testing, biocide treatment verification) in collaboration with technical specialists where microbial contamination of fuel is a risk.
Ensure safe handling and disposal of fuel samples, contaminated materials and waste in accordance with hazardous materials guidelines, and maintain accurate hazardous waste logs and manifests.
Support commercial and procurement teams during supplier qualification, tender evaluations and contract negotiations by providing technical assessments of fuel quality systems, testing capabilities and historical performance.

Secondary Functions

Provide technical support to operations and maintenance teams for troubleshooting fuel system issues that impact quality or flow (filter clogging, hydrant line contamination, heater system faults).
Assist in preparation and response for internal and external audits (IATA, JIG, ISO, civil aviation authority) by collating records, preparing evidence and coordinating on-site demonstrations of sampling and testing protocols.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to reduce test turnaround times, automate reporting, and enhance data accessibility for operations and stakeholders.
Support fuel quality data trending and reporting efforts, including maintaining digital logs and uploading test results to fuel management systems or enterprise quality platforms.
Coordinate with environmental and HSE teams to manage spill response, containment procedures, and regulatory reporting for quality-related incidents.
Mentor junior inspectors and technicians, develop on-the-job training materials, and lead competency assessments for sampling and field testing procedures.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

In-depth knowledge of aviation fuel specifications and standards (ASTM D1655, ASTM D93, ASTM D4052, DEF STAN, MIL-PRF as applicable) and ability to interpret specification tables and acceptance criteria.
Proven hands-on experience with field sampling techniques for aviation fuel, maintaining chain-of-custody and preventing cross-contamination during receipt and transfer operations.
Laboratory testing proficiency including density/relative density, kinematic viscosity, flash point testing, freezing point/distillation, water content by centrifuge and Karl Fischer, sulfur analysis and basic GC operation.
Operation, troubleshooting and calibration experience with fuel testing instruments: gas chromatographs (GC-FID), FTIR, density/meters, viscometers, flash point apparatus and turbidity meters.
Familiarity with quality systems and accreditations such as ISO/IEC 17025, JIG guidelines, IATA fuel quality recommendations and internal QA/QC procedures.
Strong documentation skills for maintaining test logs, chain-of-custody forms, calibration records and writing detailed technical reports and non-conformance records.
Practical knowledge of fuel handling infrastructure (hydrant pits, filter/separators, tanks, transfer pumps) and the ability to assess mechanical conditions that affect fuel quality.
Competence in conducting root-cause analysis (5 Whys, fishbone), writing corrective action plans and verifying effectiveness of remediation actions.
Ability to work with computerized lab management systems, digital inspection checklists and fuel quality databases (LIMS or proprietary fuel management platforms).
Understanding of hazardous materials handling, spill response protocols, PPE requirements and safe transportation rules (DOT/ADR/IATA dangerous goods considerations).

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and methodical approach to sampling, testing and documentation to ensure traceability and defensible decisions.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interfacing with operations, suppliers, airlines, regulators and senior management.
Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret laboratory data, detect trends and make operational recommendations under time constraints.
Sound judgment and decision-making ability when determining acceptance or rejection of fuel lots and advising flight operations on fuel usability.
Collaborative team player who can coordinate across maintenance, operations, procurement and laboratory teams to resolve quality issues.
Ability to train and mentor staff, deliver technical briefings and drive competency-based assessments.
Flexibility and readiness to respond to off-hours incidents, site visits and emergency fuel quality events.
Strong organizational skills and the capacity to manage multiple inspections, tests and documentation tasks concurrently.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with relevant technical certifications (fuel testing, hazardous materials handling). Often paired with 2-4 years of direct fuel quality, laboratory or refueling operations experience.

Preferred Education:

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Technology, Aviation Maintenance Technology, or related technical field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Chemistry
Chemical / Petroleum Engineering
Aviation Maintenance Technology
Environmental Science (with focus on analytical testing)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2 to 7+ years of experience in aviation fuel inspection, petrochemical laboratory testing, airport fuel operations, or similar fuel quality roles.

Preferred:

5+ years of progressive experience in aviation fuel quality assurance with demonstrated use of ASTM methods, industry accreditations (ISO/IEC 17025, JIG familiarity) and experience coordinating with airlines and regulatory authorities.
Experience with quality management systems, supplier audits and emergency response for fuel quality incidents.