The contamination in jet fuel that led to planes being grounded at Ben Gurion Airport last week has been discovered in checks from the fuel tank terminal at Bilu Junction, Yossi Arieh, head of the Israel Institute of Energy and Environment told "Globes" today. This means that the source of the contamination may not be at the airport at all, but at some point along the national system of pipelines owned by government company Petroleum & Energy Infrastructures Ltd. (PEI).
On the basis of checks carried out on Thursday, Dr. Josefa Ben-Asher, head of the institute's laboratory, announced that continued use of the fuel was a risk to life. Following further checks carried out at the airport itself on Saturday, Ben-Asher changed her recommendation, when it became clear that the contaminant was not permeating the filters of the aircraft fuelling system.
On instructions from Minister of Transport Yisrael Katz, the fuel supplied to every aircraft taking off is being sampled and tested by the Israel Air Force, and the results of the tests are being retained. On the eve of Independence Day (Tuesday), two aircraft were found with suspect fuel, which led to their fuel tanks being emptied and refilled, delaying the flights, among other things because of the need to replace the aircrew, according to international aviation rules.
The Israel Airports Authority says that the Air Force tests will continue until further notice, while the report of a government inspection committee is awaited.
At a press conference on the eve of Independence Day, Ministry of Transport director general Dan Harel said, "The source of the contamination is apparently not organic, but comes from a burst somewhere along the route. However, the filtration system does not allow the contamination through." Harel's statement seems to indicate that the contamination comes from some point in the pipeline transporting the fuel.
Meanwhile, the affair continues to cause damage to passengers and the airlines. Katz did say at the press conference that "we will ensure that people who have been delayed will not suffer damage, will be compensated and receive what is due to them." However, the airlines are suffering growing damage. For example, yesterday, Arkia had to change the aircrew on a flight to Paris that was delayed, and to put the passengers up in hotels.
IATA country manager for Israel Kobi Zussman told "Globes", "The incident is not over, even after the Ministry of Transport sent a telex to the airlines on the eve of Independence Day. We are monitoring it, and view it with great concern. It is not something common around the world, and unfortunately it has happened in Israel. In recent days, a great many passengers have been caused considerable damage and distress, and the airlines have incurred huge financial damage, including compensation to passengers, unloading of aircraft, and harm to their reputations."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 11, 2011
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