AVGAS Pricing

[Bennie Vorster]

Is there any regulating body in this country or can Avgas suppliers charge for their fuel as they like?

I just noticed that there might be one or two places that I'm filling up at that is outrages comparing their fuel pricing.

Feel kinda ripped off.

[Splinter]

Bennie I`ll be honest with you....... You are being ripped of all the time! We have been in the fuel industry for a number of years. I am currently doing my PPL in Brakpan. We are thinking of buying a 4 seater some time in the future and started checking prices and available quantities of Avgas. The plan is to buy them in drums or get the delivery yourself at the depot in a fuel trailer because of the crazy prices at airpots. This is not an option for everyone as we are fuel retailers and have permission and licenses to do so. The point I`m getting to is that the price for Avgas is crazy when comparing to normal fuel. The fuel margin on mogas is approx 68c per litre. Avgas sellers make more than double that (at some places more than R2 per litre). Unfortunately all you can do about it is to go get the shower gel, bend over and say thank you for the full tank of Avgas if you catch my drift.

There is no controll on the price of Avgas. Its deragulated, just like diesel and some airports really smoke the guys!

[Bennie Vorster]

Well maybe we must start looking at a sort of a Grey list to name the places you should avoid stopping over for refuling when you do your flight planning.

I Mean Take FANC for in case R13.97 per liter.
I can fly to Ladysmith refuel and fly back and still score on that kinda money.......

[RV4ker (RIP)]

I drive to BFN (660km) to get Avgas. It cheaper than filling up at Rand where I hangar....

PS
most NTCA types will quiet happily run on 95 unleaded.....

[KFA]

Hi Bennie, daai Jabi van jou hardloop lekker op 95. Solank jy nie sateliet sateliet speel en op 10000ft vlieg nie sal jy oraait wees. Vra maar die Bantam ouens, van hulle het al ver oor 1000 ure op 95 gedoen.

[Bennie Vorster]

Hi Bennie, daai Jabi van jou hardloop lekker op 95. Solank jy nie sateliet sateliet speel en op 10000ft vlieg nie sal jy oraait wees. Vra maar die Bantam ouens, van hulle het al ver oor 1000 ure op 95 gedoen.

Dem en fl 095 is reeds my gunsteling uithang plek.....

[Stephan van Tonder]

KFA - I misunderstand your problem. - The higher you go the LESS octane you need as the pressure is getting less the higher you go. You need MORE octane the closer to the coast you get(hence the reason you get 93 up in the reef but not at the coast).
Octane is a number that express the fuel's ability to suppress knock. The higher the pressure inside the cylinder the more it tends to knock so you need higher octane. The less the pressure the less octane you need as the tendency to knock is less. SO climb to altitude - you need less octane.

[Mogas]

The problem with mogas is that it is more prone to airlocks at altitude.
This is less of a problem with a high wing where the fuel gravity feeds and provides a small amount of positive pressure at the fuel pump inlet.
If you are sucking your fuel uphill with a fuel pump, FL100 is not where you want to be with mogas in your tanks.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

That was my thinking as well, but I know of a couple RV drivers who fly long haul at FL120 on Mogas without any ill effects on IO-360's?

[Stephan van Tonder]

Can somebody explain to me in scientific terms how the octane rating of a fuel can be responsible for it causing airlocks at high altitude. I know of a bundle of microlights that flew happily from here to numbi at fl 010 with not a missed beat while sucking fuel with nothing more than the normal pump found on a 582. Must say I find what you are saying VERY hard to believe. There are these days lots of airplanes that has STC's for running mogas and those include a lot of planes in the PPL class that often fly higher than fl010. Must say I feel my BS meter moving.

[weedy]

My understanding of this airlock/vapour lock is with the fuel injected aero engines and high temps under the cowl of an aircraft that is standing on the ramp after a flight and coffee break. When its then time to startup again (hot start procedures). Don't see how it can happen in flight.

[Stephan van Tonder]

http://www.eaa.org/autofuel/faqs/vapor_ ... #TopOfPage

Because SA is such a hot country I believe that all our fuels will be blended not to cause a vapour lock in cars in any case. Cannot believe that will be an issue in an airplane.

[kloot piloot]

You need to take into consideration that the fuel facility is not paid for by the fuel company.

At Brits we had to replace our tank, pump system, environmental requirements etc. It cost the club in 2008 over R 100K. Added, the new tank was a donation tank from Walvisbay, otherwise it would have been an additional R 80K. Unlike farm diesel tanks, the fuel suppliers do not sponsor or supply the facility.

Having said this, it does not explain why one field can charge R 13,96, and FABS (Brits) can still supply for around R 9.00 / liter ? Notwithstanding our ill fortune of facility replacement. Unless they have to cart small quantities in by bakkie from a bigger source ?

Couple of interesting yet aggrevating facts:
You have to take 20 000 liters at a time to qualify for a certain price bracket. Anything less and the supplier will increase your service charges.
The club needs to supply periodic x-ray test reports to the supplier of their tank, something diesel and mogas tanks are not subjected to. Cost of x-ray ? R 5000 to R 15 000 !
Mogas and diesel can be gravity fed from the supplier into the tank. Avgas must be pumped.
You have to pay the supplier cash once the 20 000 l is in the club tank !!!

I am no fundi on the above. I just learnt the hard way whilst serving on our club's committee !

Maar K@K en betaal remains the law of Tr@nsv@@l !

[andreb]

If you in the area and need fuel (AVGAS and MOGAS), try Piet at Aviators Paradise. Prices are reasonable.

[Bennie Vorster]

Gess who came to the party.

AVGAS now R11.73 inc at Newcastle....................