Can anyone explain how the fuel heaters are supposed to be used. I'm having trouble finding much information on them. I suspect that the fuel heat system is modeled in the CS 727, and that may have been the cause of my engine failure during a flight to Yellowknife in the North West Territories of Canada. It was cold. I have seen the three orange lights come on in the past, and I just turned the fuel heaters on and they went out. However, if I turn the fuel heaters off moments later, the lights come on again. I'm not sure if the heaters are supposed to remain on all the time. Either way, I forgot to turn the heaters on and that is the only conclusion I can come to.

Thanks,
Adam

Fuel heaters were used to prevent fuel icing or freezing at low temps at high altitudes.

At Ansett airlines in Australia who operated the 727 the fuel heaters were selected ON prior to take-off by the Flight Engineer and were covered in the FE pre-taxi checklist.

So select them on before taxi and leave them on until after arrival - simple.

CXA546 wrote on Nov 16^th, 2011 at 3:51am:


Hi CXA546,

Doesn't matter if crossfeeds valves are open. Pay attention at F/E panel and be sure to close the valves and shut off pumps before each tank is almost empty (about 500 pounds) or the engines will die. The same thing happens with the B707.

Greetings,

Pinatubo.

Thanks for all the feedback!!! Seems to be working great now.