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City council introduces amendment to permit airport "hot fueling" with limits
Summary
Lake Havasu City moved to introduce an amendment to city code 11.08.718 to allow hot fueling (refueling with the engine running) at the municipal airport, following a staff request and discussion about safety, military requirements and FBO insurance.
The Lake Havasu City Council voted July 9 to introduce an ordinance amending city code section 11.08.718 to permit hot fueling at the Lake Havasu City airport under updated rules.
Damon Anderson, airport supervisor, told the council he has observed hot fueling operations and that current city code forbids the practice. Anderson asked the council to amend the ordinance to allow hot fueling at fixed-base operators’ facilities, noting that other airports leave the decision to the FBO and that some military aircraft require hot fueling to preserve engine cycles.
Anderson explained: "I'm not sure if y'all are familiar with what hot fueling is, but that's a fueling operation that's done while an engine is running. Most people realize it when they say helicopters, you know, rotors running... but it's also, you know, jets running with their APUs on, running air conditioners in a jet while they're preparing, you know, for boarding..." He said FBOs have requested the city allow the practice and that he consulted other airports on their approaches.
During council discussion a pilot commented that hot fueling "isn't a good idea" for small aircraft, while another council member noted some military aircraft require hot refueling to preserve cycles and avoid additional engine wear. Anderson confirmed military refueling needs and said the requested ordinance change would allow the fueling practice while leaving details such as insurance and operator procedures to the FBOs.
Councilmember Jim Dolan moved to introduce Ordinance Number Nineteen‑Twelve 19 amending city code section 11.08.718; a second was recorded and the motion carried 6–0. The vote authorized introduction of the ordinance for a future formal adoption hearing; the council did not adopt a final ordinance at the July 9 meeting.
Clarifying note: The amendment as introduced would change the city code to permit hot fueling operations where allowed by appropriate operator procedures and insurance; specific operational controls and any required safety procedures would be considered during the ordinance adoption process and implementation.
