30 march 2017

Gazpromneft-Aero, operator of the Gazprom Neft aviation refuelling business, together with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has held the first ever international conference on the standardisation of data interchange in aviation refuelling. New electronic formats developed by the Fuel Data Standards Group (IATA FDSG), which includes the world’s largest aviation fuel suppliers and consumers, will significantly reduce labour costs and speed up document flow thanks to refuelling transactions being conducted online.

Representatives from the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation took part in the conference, as well as representatives from aviation refuelling and airport operators, and 16 Russian and international air carriers, which took place at Sheremetyevo International Airport. Specialists from Gazpromneft-Aero, involved in the work of the IATA FDSG, presented document templates based on the universal XML digital format to allow information sharing between airlines and fuel suppliers at each of the main stages of the fuel supply process: in conducting tenders, in forwarding online refuelling requests, and in transmitting digital purchasing orders, invoices and payment reconciliation.

As part of the conference’s practical programme participants observed aircraft being refuelled from a Gazpromneft-Aero tanker equipped with an automated metering module and GSM transmission unit for online messaging of refuelling parameters.

Vladimir Egorov, CEO, Gazpromneft-Aero, commented: "Introducing international quality standards in aviation refuelling to Russia is one of our company’s priority objectives. Cutting-edge data interchange formats, replacing paper-based media — that’s the future for the aviation refuelling industry. We are proud to be the first in Russia to develop and implement these technologies.

“The IATA conference allowed us to show representatives from Russia’s aviation industry a step-by-step algorithm for switching to international data exchange standards in aviation refuelling. The introduction of modern information systems and common data interchange formats in the aviation industry will help to increase competitiveness, reduce costs, speed up airlines’ and suppliers’ responses to market conditions, and allow customers to be offered new services, as well as opportunities for managing refuelling operations at hundreds of airports.”

Subasinghe Lasantha, Head, Commercial Fuel Services, IATA, added: “Thanks to Gazpromneft-Aero joining the IATA FDSG, we have been able to hold the first international conference in Russia on developing rules governing data interchange among aviation fuel market participants. Similar conferences are planned for 2017, in New York and Singapore. IATA’s long-term goal is to implement global standards on data interchange in aviation refuelling operations in any corner of the world — which will, without a doubt, improve airlines’ and suppliers’ operational efficiency.”

Tags: aircraft fuelling