How should you respond to a fuel spill or leak on the airside?

• A. Stop operations, notify fuel control or fire services, isolate the area, use spill kit if trained, document per procedure.
• B. Continue operations and report after fuel spill.
• C. Only notify supervisor, ignore spill.
• D. Put water on the spill to dilute it.

Answer: (D)

When a fuel spill on the airside happens, the priority is to prevent ignition and limit spread. Stop fueling or any movements near the spill, then alert the appropriate authorities such as fuel control or fire services. Create a safe exclusion zone around the area to keep others out. If you’ve been trained, deploy the spill kit and follow your airport’s spill-response procedure to contain and clean up the fuel. After actions are taken, document the incident per procedure.

Water should not be used on a fuel spill. Fuel and water don’t mix, and adding water can spread the fuel, push it into drains or other areas, and increase the hazard. Use proper absorbents and containment to manage the spill, and rely on trained personnel to complete the cleanup.