Pupils learn about fuel

Fifteen pupils from grades 3 to 7 from the Otala Combined School at Ondangwa last week had the opportunity to learn more about aviation fuel and why aircraft fuel is different from that of cars and trucks.

This educational trip was made possible by Puma Energy and its partners in the aviation industry, like the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) and Fly Namibia.

The children learnt that aircraft require specialised aviation fuel to keep their highly specialised and technical engines running.

In a media statement sent to Top Revs, Puma Energy said it was to expose and educate pupils about small but very important part of the aviation industry.

“The children were in awe,” the statement read.

This was also the first time ever that these children were granted the opportunity to see and experience aircraft up close and personal. One of the many questions asked by the pupils was who trained operators in the technical aspects of their roles in the aviation fuel sector.

“Operators are trained in the technical aspects of their roles by qualified in-house technicians while the operational aspects are attended to by shift supervisors, depot managers and joint inspection group (JIG) Inspectors, the world-leading organisation for the development of aviation fuel supply standards,” notes the statement.

The minimum educational qualifications for an operator is Grade 12.

For all the Otala Combined School pupils, the cherry on top of the visit was witnessing how a Fly Namibia passenger jet plane was refuelled, noted the statement.

Aviation fuels are petroleum-based or petroleum and synthetic fuel blends used to power aircraft. Aviation fuel differs widely from that of road faring vehicles and is induced with additives to suit the aircraft’s working environment such as to prevent static electricity as aircraft fuel is used at high speed. This aviation fuel needs to be stored and handled with strict adherence to the highest safety standards at airports.

Puma Energy general manager Adel Samuelson said the pupils were introduced to a small part of the aviation industry, with career opportunities for pilots, cabin crew, engineers and technical crew.

Samuelson said similar learning experiences can be arranged in future for Namibian pupils.

Puma Energy contributes to Namibia’s energy security by supplying aviation fuel 24/7 to aircraft flying in and out of Hosea Kutako International, Ondangwa and Eros airports. It is one of the top role players in this sector, with 61 retail fuel stations across the country.