Air bp is reinforcing its commitment to Africa by rolling out Airfield Automation digital technology at nine locations across South Africa and Mozambique.

The cloud-based platform is designed to prevent misfuelling by enhancing safety, reliability and compliance in airport fuelling operations, as well as providing data in real time to operators. Air bp says that it strengthens safety barriers and mitigates risks during the fuelling process. Airfield Automation is the first commercially deployed system in the world to provide an engineering barrier to help prevent misfuelling.

The platform consolidates data related to airport fuelling operations and works via an application on a handheld device in fuelling vehicles. The ‘safe2go’ app captures fuel volume readings and provides fuel grade checks to add an additional misfuelling barrier. It then electronically captures customer details which are confirmed with an electronic signature from the pilot or operator. By using this automated and paperless system, accuracy is enhanced and potential miskeying errors minimised. The technology will enable Air bp to offer increasingly integrated information to customers, such as delivery records and precise delivery timings.

General manager for southern Africa Anthony Leon says: “Africa is an important market for Air bp and we plan to continue to grow our business here. We are pleased to have successfully installed Airfield Automation in Mozambique and South Africa. Misfuelling is one of the biggest risks we face in our industry and in particular at locations serving general aviation aircraft. Our new technology provides an engineering barrier to stop it happening, which is good news all round.”

Air bp has been present in Africa for more than 75 years. The company currently supplies fuel at 40 network locations and works with around 50 customers across commercial, general and military sectors at nine locations in South Africa, 10 in Egypt, seven in Tunisia, seven in Mozambique, two in Morocco, two in Cape Verde and one each in Mauritius, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. The company's operations in Africa are supported by around 180 employees.