Joe Deck
"It is working really great now being able to test the big jet engines safely. Tanks look really good, and the fit-out went well.”
Nigel Chivers, Project Manager – Property and Infrastructure
Challenge
Air New Zealand operates a global network that provides passenger and cargo services to, from and within New Zealand to approximately 17 million passengers a year. It is headquartered in Auckland New Zealand and has been in operation since April 1940.
Air New Zealand had been in discussions with their engineers and were looking to build a new testing facility at Auckland airport. This facility would entail testing aircraft jet engines in a safe environment. This project was part of an overall upgrade to the engineering plant at Auckland Airport, with specifics of the testing facility needing a storage tank for 45,000L of Jet A-1 fuel.
Being a Hazardous liquid Class 3.1C as per WorkSafe SWI, the Jet A-1 for the facility needed to be stored in a fire-rated tank. Not only that, due to stringent aviation requirements it had to be kept very clean and untarnished for its shelf life longevity. Air New Zealand’s Project Manager approached Fuelchief early on in the development stages of this project to discuss the details and challenges to work through these for the most compliant solution.
Solution
The regulatory and compliant solution for this project was to provide Air New Zealand with a SuperVault Aviation SV4 45,000: tank. This tank is 4 hour fire-rated and multi-hazard tested to ensure it’s fit for in-field application. For this particular tank, there was an incline added to a low point, a epoxy-lined inner tank, and 316 stainless steel fittings along with marine grade paint used to ensure longevity on site, insulated manways (these ensure no condensation or water dripping into the tank or within the tank) and a full length walkway with access stairs for maintenance and service.
Outcome
Air New Zealand chose the SuperVault as being the environmentally compliant and the safest, most durable tank for storage of their Jet A-1. Due to the tanks strict certification to SwRI 95-03 this meant the separation distances to a public and protected place could be halved and allowed for better utilisation of the site. With the additional features added to the tank (mentioned earlier in this case study) meant that Air New Zealand was assured optimal fuel quality going forward for their engines. A successful implementation for the client.
