International aviation fuel products and services supplier Air bp has announced Magdeburg City Airport (ZMG/EDBM) in Cochstedt, Germany as the 300^th location to implement its award-winning Airfield Automation digital technology.

The technology is now live at 300 network locations across 28 countries in four continents. Since launching in May 2018, over one million fuelling operations have been processed using Airfield Automation.

Designed to enhance safety and reliability in airport fuelling operations, Airfield Automation is said to have been well received by operators who have reported increased speed, accuracy and efficiency in refuelling. For example, the time taken to get fuelling data into the system has reduced by 95 per cent in Portugal, one of the first countries where rollout took place. Another example of the efficiency this brings to customers is that requests for copies of delivery tickets can be responded to immediately without, in most instances, requiring action from the airport.

Air bp’s Airfield Automation safe2go technology, deployed at over 125 of the locations, is a pioneer in the provision of an engineering barrier to actively help prevent misfuelling. It consolidates the data related to airport fuelling operations and verifies fuelling requirements via an app on a handheld device in the fuelling vehicle.

Aircraft operators will also benefit from the rollout of new services recently added to the platform which give the opportunity to further enhance efficiency. These include the real-time two-way connection between flight crew and fuel operator during the aircraft turnaround at the airfield which trials have shown result in a 15-30 per cent reduction in refuelling time. From receiving the preliminary order through to a revised final order, concluding with an electronic ticket sign-off, the service provides “instant visibility and more efficient refuelling operations”, according to the company.

Commenting on the milestone, VP of technical services and HSSE at Air bp Olivia Stone said: “This latest milestone marks more positive news for our customers. I am delighted that they will be able to benefit from the digitisation of our into-plane fuelling operations making the refuelling process safer, faster and more efficient.”

The company’s VP of sales and marketing Valerio Ferro added: “Our latest innovation seamlessly connects pilot with operator, helping to unlock savings by increasing data accuracy, maximising efficiency, and helping to reduce turnaround times. We’re continuing to roll this innovative technology out in countries around the world.”

In mid-May, Air bp confirmed an agreement for its first sale of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at Munich Airport. This marks the second location in Germany where Air bp has supplied SAF, the first being in December 2019 at Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport.