Award winning innovation to cut fuel and water drain time from hours to minutes

The award-winning Fuel Drain-Doctor cart, built by Etihad Airways Engineering, drains contaminated residual fuel from an aircraft up to 80% faster than conventional methods, saving valuable time for an airline. 

Etihad Airways Engineering has seen off competition from a field of 400 to take a top innovation award. The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider received the prestigious UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Aeronnovation award in the ‘Improving Aviation Safety’ category. 

The award was presented by GCAA Chairman H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori and Director General H.E. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi during the UAE’s Innovation Month. 

Etihad Airways Engineering’s winning entry – Fuel Drain-Doctor^TM – efficiently and safely drains condensate water and fuel and reduces depuddling times from hours to minutes. The innovative drain cart saves up to 80 per cent of the time required for fuel and water draining during aircraft maintenance. 

Fuel Drain-Doctor was designed and developed in the Etihad Airways Engineering facility, and was a result of close collaboration between the Design, Engineering & Innovation and Light Maintenance teams. 

Abdul Khaliq Saeed, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways Engineering, said, “As an MRO organisation, we aim to minimise ground time for our customer’s aircraft by employing more efficient processes and innovative technologies. Fuel Drain-Doctor, designed and built in the Etihad Airways Engineering facility, can help any airline or MRO reduce aircraft fuel and water draining time, which leads to cost and time savings. Faster turnaround time translates to more revenue in our industry where every minute counts.”