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IASH Webinar Wednesday proudly presents
 Aviation Fuels Problems and Solutions: From Refinery to Wingtip
with Moshe Rabaev, PhD
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 @ 9am EST
 
Aviation fuel properties are central to flight safety, operational reliability, and the transition toward sustainable aviation. While authoritative references such as Aviation Fuels (Maxwell Smith), the CRC Aviation Fuel Properties Handbook, and standards and guidance from ASTM, EI, and JIG have long underpinned industry practice, many were developed in an era dominated by conventional, crude-oil-derived fuels. Over the past two decades, rapid technological advances, evolving regulatory frameworks, and the introduction of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) have fundamentally changed the risk landscape and operational challenges associated with aviation fuels.

The lecture is based on the book Aviation Fuel Problems and Solutions, which addresses this gap by presenting an updated, practice-oriented synthesis developed through international collaboration among industry experts. Adopting a “well-to-wing” perspective, the book and lecture guide the audience from fuel specifications and refinery production through distribution, storage, handling, testing, and aircraft integration. Topics include conventional and sustainable fuel production, additives, material compatibility, thermal stability, storage and supply-chain risk management, filtration and fuel handling equipment, sampling strategies, microbiological contamination, corrosion mechanisms, laboratory diagnostic methods, and fuel-related system failures relevant to safety investigations.

Rather than replacing existing handbooks, this work complements them by focusing on problem mechanisms, root-cause analysis, and mitigation strategies informed by contemporary operational experience. Emphasis is placed on prevention through robust design, standards-based practices, and disciplined execution across the supply chain. The lecture is intended for fuel engineers, researchers, and aviation professionals involved in fuel quality management, incident response, and innovation, providing practical insights to support safer, more efficient, and more sustainable aviation operations.
 
Dr. Moshe Rabaev is an independent consultant and senior researcher in the Blechner Center for Industrial Catalysis and Process Development at Ben-Gurion University.

Dr. Moshe Rabaev is an active researcher and independent consultant with more than 25 years of experience in aviation fuels, advanced materials, and aviation-related manufacturing and maintenance processes. A retired officer of the Israeli Air Force, he previously led its Science and Materials Division. His work focuses on strategic research and technology development in areas such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), fuels and lubricants, failure analysis and root cause analysis (RCA), composite materials, corrosion, polymers, analytical chemistry, and additive manufacturing. He chairs the Central Committee for Chemical Standards at the Standards Institution of Israel and serves on multiple specialized standards committees. He is a board member of the International Association for Stability, Handling, and Use of Liquid Fuels, Inc. (IASH) and an active member of ASTM International, Subcommittee D02.J for Aviation Fuels. Dr. Rabaev also holds a senior researcher position at the Blechner Center for Industrial Catalysis and Process Development at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He has authored numerous scientific publications, books, and conference papers. Throughout his career, he has received several professional awards, including the Merit of Excellence from the Israeli Minister of Defense and the Award for Technological Innovation from the Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.