FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q1. When should I take oil samples from my pieces of equipment?
Q2. Where should I sample the oil from?
Q3. How will I know if the unit has a problem, and what action should I take?
Q4. Do you have quality assurance accreditation?
Q5. How do I get my results?
Q6. How should I send the samples?
Q7. Do you supply sample bottles?
Q8. How long does it take to get the results to me?
Q9. Can I ask for technical advice in interpreting the results received?
Q10. Have you received my sample?
Q11. What is a SOAP kit and how can I order them?
Q12. Is there a sample collection service?
Q13. Can my urgent (AOG) samples have priority status?
Q14. What is involved with trend monitoring?
Q15. What types of aviation engines does Jet-Care specialise in?

Q1. When should I take oil samples from my pieces of equipment?
A. You should sample at regular equipment operating hours (see your maintenance manual for recommendation) and with oil in circulation, alternatively within 30 minutes after equipment shutdown.
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Q2. Where should I sample the oil from?
A. Ideally no deeper than the oil pump pick up. A length of tube passed down through the dip stick hole or similar usually works well, with a plastic bottle or a pump connected to draw up the oil. We need about 50ml of fluid.
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Q3. How will I know if the unit has a problem, and what action should I take?
A detailed analysis report is sent to you every time you send us a sample. Recommendations and previous oil data (if any) are included in the report. If you require more information our analysts will be happy to help you. If your sample is in alert you should contact your Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
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Q4. Do you have quality assurance accreditation?
A. All of our laboratories hold ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. This is specifically for laboratories and cross references to all the clauses in ISO 9001:1994 and ISO 9002:1994 and in addition, covers further technical competence requirements that these standards do not include.
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Q5. How do I get my results?
A. For speed of reporting and quality of reading we prefer to email results rather than fax or post. You can specify how you want to receive the results when sending us the sample.
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Q6. How should I send the samples?
A. Please ensure that you have tightened the lid of the sample bottle properly and that the bottle is packaged suitably. Please do not use Vermiculite (Mica expanded at high temperature to produce highly absorbent and fire proof loose fill packing medium) as the fine powder can contaminate the sample.

Supply the following information: company name, aircraft type, aircraft registration, unit type, unit serial number, unit position, unit hours, unit cycles, oil hours, oil brand name and grade, sample date and any operational problems. Then send your sample(s) to us preferably via courier.
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Q7. Do you supply sample bottles?
A. We can supply you with Jet-Care^® oil, fuel, hydraulic fluid, debris and SOAP sample kits.
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Q8. How long does it take to get the results to me?
A. All samples, excluding fuels, are analysed and results reported within 24 hours. Due to incubation time, fuel samples are on a 5-day turnaround.

Our services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need an analysis on an AOG basis, inform us prior to the arrival of the sample in our laboratory.
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Q9. Can I ask for technical advice in interpreting the results received?
A. If there are any results you do not understand, our technical advisers would be happy to explain these to you. Please contact us via our inquiry form or by telephone.
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Q10. Have you received my sample?
A. Every sample is logged into our system on arrival at the laboratory and given a unique identification number. This number follows the sample right through the analysis programme and appears on our report to you.
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Q11. What is a SOAP kit and how can I order them?
A SOAP (Spectrometric Oil Analysis Program) kit is a sample with a prepaid analysis. SOAP kits contain generally a new filter and some 'O' rings with certificates, an oil sample bottle and a filter container. For the full list of SOAP kits available at Jet-Care see our Testing Kits. Kits can be ordered by email, fax or telephone.
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Q12. Is there a sample collection service?
For Jet-Care USA, there is a daily collection service from Newark (EWR), Morristown (MMU) and Teterboro (TEB) airports.
During opening hours, our collection service is free of charge.

For Spectro UK: there is a daily collection service from London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports. On request, samples can also be collected from other nearby airports (London Luton, Southampton, Bournemouth).

For Spectro Switzerland: there is a daily collection service from Basel airport.
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Q13. Can my urgent (AOG) samples have priority status?
A. Our services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Jet-Care understands the operator's pressure associated with AOG (Aircraft on the Ground) status samples, which is why these samples have a laboratory turnaround time of within a few hours. AOG telephone numbers are +(1) 973 292 9597 in the USA and +44 (0) 1256 393500 in the UK (24 hours).
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Q14. What is involved with trend monitoring?
A. Customer’s current analytical sample data is matched against previous data for that engine and monitored against early alert warning limits for specific elements within the oil.
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Q15. What types of aviation engines does Jet-Care specialise in?
A. Jet-Care can monitor any fixed-wing piston, turboprop or turbofan engine and associated oil wetted equipment as well as any rotorcraft piston, turboshaft, main and tail rotor gearboxes. Fixed-wing aircraft covers everything from a Spitfire Rolls Royce Merlin up to the latest GP7200 Turbofan fitted to the Airbus A380.
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