LBA: Keeping the Fuel Flowing
From overnight airport shutdowns to blizzards rolling in over the runway, Meson keeps Leeds Bradford Airport’s fuel infrastructure powered, compliant, and ready for the next incoming flight.
PART ONE
From Small Jobs to Mission-Critical Power
Nearly ten years ago, Meson first arrived at Leeds Bradford Airport to carry out small electrical works and fuel tank inspections. That early work, delivered safely and without fuss in a highly regulated environment, laid the foundations for a long-term relationship.
Over time, Meson became the go‑to electrical partner for the airport’s fuel operations team at Menzies Aviation and for the wider airport operations team. What began as reactive works has evolved into:
Fuel farm power upgrades to support expansion and new equipment
Leak detection system design, expansion and maintenance
Above-ground leak detection and drainage changeover systems
Routine hazardous area inspection, testing, and ongoing maintenance
This case study focuses on a flagship project: upgrading the mains electrical infrastructure to power a new Bridger loading module at the expanded fuel farm - work that had to be completed safely, on time, and without disrupting the airport’s core operation: getting aircraft fuelled and back in the air.
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PART TWO
Working Under Wings: How We Delivered
The existing mains couldn’t support the new fuel infrastructure, so Meson designed and installed a new 350m, 200–250A sub‑main from the apron substation to a new GRP switch room dedicated to the fuel system.
Airside-ready and hazardous-area compliant
Meson secured airside passes, airside driving permits, and completed all required site-specific safety training.
Works were delivered in ATEX Zone-classified hazardous areas, following strict procedures on isolation, equipment selection and testing.
Threading power through a live airfield
The cable route followed an existing duct network:
Ducts ran about 2m deep alongside service roads bordering taxiways.
Heavy duct covers required specialist lifting gear and trained operators.
Because of bends and route geometry, the cable had to be installed in sections, including pulling roughly 180m out, banking it on the verge, and re-feeding it into the system - physically demanding work that required tight choreography between the crew, lifting team and airport movements.
No room for delay when flights are inbound
Fuel operations never stop:
Meson coordinated daily with Menzies Aviation and the airport team to align work with tanker movements, aircraft turnaround times, and security constraints.
A key milestone was an overnight shutdown of the apron substation switchboard. For that window, part of the airport’s infrastructure was effectively offline, with a hard deadline to restore power before early arrivals - memorably including a flight from Malaga full of passengers that wouldn’t appreciate being diverted to Manchester.
There were contingencies involving backup generators, but they were complex and undesirable. The message was clear: “You have to be done.” That pressure shaped the planning, resourcing, and sequencing of every task.
Leadership, communication and culture
The team was fully briefed on risks, critical paths, and what was at stake, without scaremongering.
Meson’s approach is to never over-promise: realistic programmes, thorough preparation, and honest communication with all parties.
On the ground, it came down to simple, clear daily conversations with operations: what they needed to do, what Meson needed to do, and how to fit the two together.
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PART THREE
Weather: the extra challenge nobody orders
Leeds Bradford is known for its fast-changing weather. One evening, the team watched a clear, cold sky over the runway suddenly transform:
A swirling bank of cloud rolled up the runway; within ten minutes, they were working in driving snow.
Sheltering in the GRP enclosure, with snow hitting horizontally across the apron, the team were operating in conditions more like a Everest expedition than a regional airport.
It’s a reminder that these projects demand not only technical skill, but resilience in tough conditions.
The accompanying photo of the tanker against a grey sky captures that reality: critical infrastructure work being delivered in tough, unpredictable weather, with no option to miss the deadline.
Lights On, Flights In
The project delivered a new, high-capacity electrical backbone for the fuel farm:
A reliable mains supply feeding a new GRP switch room with MCCB panel board
Sufficient capacity for current and future fuel operations, including the Bridger loading module
Works completed safely, compliantly, and within the shutdown window, with no unplanned disruption to flights
Beyond the technical outcome, the project strengthened an already strong partnership:
Meson now provides ongoing inspection, testing, maintenance and project works at Leeds Bradford.
The relationship with Menzies Aviation and the airport team is built on trust, quiet reliability, and a track record of delivering when the pressure is on.
Meson are repeatedly asked back to handle high-stakes, airside electrical work and a proud of the relationships we have built over the last decade.
This airside capability at Leeds Bradford sits alongside similar works Meson delivers at other UK airports and airfields, including Cardiff Airport, Teesside, and a range of independent airfields. Across these sites, Meson undertakes fuel farm power upgrades, additional tank installations and relocations, leak detection systems, and ongoing inspection and maintenance - often in live, space-constrained, and weather-exposed environments.
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enquiries@mesonelectrical.com
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