WITHIN the coming days, Air Services Ltd expects to get the green light to start handling fuel from its just-completed fuel farm opposite its hangar at Ogle Airport, and then it will service the company’s entire fleet independently of other fuel suppliers.

ASL, the largest airline in the country, began construction of the fuel farm in July 2012; and it was completed seven months later, in February 2013.
In a comment on the benefits that will accrue from this venture, ASL’s Captain Mazahar Ally pointed out that it will lead to significant savings that will keep air transportation affordable, and it would allow for a far more efficient turn around of ASL aircraft in-between flights. He feels that aircraft operators can now choose their fuel service provider, since the monopoly on fuel handling has been removed.
ASL has invested in a state-of-the-art fuelling facility at Ogle Airport to handle both Jet A-1 fuel for turbine engine aircraft and Avgas 100 LL for piston engine aircraft.  The tank farm comprises four tanks with a total capacity of 40,000 US gallons for Jet A-1, and 20,000 US gallons for Avgas 100 LL.
All tanks are of the UL-142 double-wall canopy design type, which satisfies national and international regulatory standards for environmental protection.
The canopy, an extension of the tank shell, offers much-needed protection over the equipment area; and the tanks have all the necessary safety features, including the high-level shut-off system to prevent tank overfill.
The design and layout of each tank is compliant with occupational health and safety requirements, to ensure the health and safety of ASL personnel who will be operating and maintaining the facility.
The 300 GPM Jet and 200 GPM Avgas bulk-loading systems are fitted with explosion-proof motors, and provide excellent filtration with the Morrison pump inlet strainers.

Training
ASL staff members have had practical fuel handling experience over the past few decades, and have benefited from training by internationally qualified fuel consultants brought in by Rubis, Guyoil, and the Guyana Energy Agency, who generously facilitated ASL’s staff participation.
Meanwhile, ASL will be hosting a three-day aviation fuel-handling course, scheduled for 16-18 March, 2013, to augment the capacity of its personnel for the safe handling of aviation fuel. This course will be conducted by global aviation fuel consultant Mr. Ravin Apadoo from Fuel Solutions Inc. in Canada.
ASL has extended participation to both the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority and the Guyana Energy Authority, who will each be sending two representatives to participate in this course.

Expansion
This farm will help fuel the further expansion of ASL at Ogle, as the company looks to acquire three  airside lots to accommodate its growing fleet of airplanes and helicopters, and a further three  acres of non-airside space to ease parking problems and cargo storage for its customers.
ASL views the realization of this long-held dream as a fitting celebration of the centenary of local aviation, and is extremely grateful for the support it has received from the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Energy Authority in making this a reality.