The IATA Guidance Material for Investigating and Categorizing of Engine Fuel Filter Blockages is a standard procedure defined within the IATA Technical Fuel Group. It addresses the removal and analysis of the composition and the categorization of the debris from engine fuel filters.
This standard method allows to compare results between operators and/or fuel companies, possibly using a database. Making use of this database may help in defining problem areas or local problems, which may affect aircraft fuel systems. It also covers the different types of contamination and provides a routine for the examination of these filters in the form of a series of sequenced steps.
Benefits
This examination protocol is a combination of best practices currently in use by a variety of laboratories and will provide an in-depth analysis of contaminants while minimizing the time and expense required to obtain this analysis.