Security
Fueling Mix-up Caught at Canadian Airport Before Takeoff
A piston-twin and a turboprop twin caused confusion at Dryden Regional Airport

What happened when similar-looking twin-engine Commanders, operated by the same company and with nearly identical registration numbers, were parked nearby on the same ramp at the same time waiting to be refueled? One of them received the wrong fuel. The mistake occurred on September 9 at Canada’s Dryden Regional Airport (CYHD) but was caught before the aircraft even started up.

According to a recent Transportation Safety Board of Canada incident report, Aero Commander Rockwell 500S, a piston-twin registered as C-FRBD and operated by Mag Aerospace Canada, was parked on the apron with the company’s Commander 690A, a turboprop carrying registration C-FDBD. The pilot of C-FDBD contacted the fueling agent and requested jet-A for the 690A.