They refuel aircraft across the globe and are thus an essential part of flight safety worldwide. Skytanking employees wear precisely tailored PPE and multinorm clothing from Fristads during their daily operations, allowing them to carry out every movement safely and comfortably. "Safety is always at the centre of operations in the international airport environment – for our colleagues as well," reports Thomas Hampel, General Manager of Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) and Head of Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Northern Europe.

Clothing that protects without compromise

Skytanking is one of the major players amongst aircraft refuelling companies: The company handles more than 25 million cubic metres of aviation fuel annually, refuelling two million aircraft – four refuellings per minute. At CGN, the specialists move across the airport grounds day and night to prepare aircraft for departure.

"Multinorm with high-visibility and antistatic properties are minimum requirements," confirms Chris Michael Chaborski, Head of Operations at Skytanking. "For optimal protection, we wanted flame resistance that was neither required by regulations nor by law. Due to explosion hazards, antistatic properties are also paramount. We found what we were looking for with Fristads."

Through the combinability of dark work trousers with reduced high-visibility features and upper garments with high-visibility properties, Fristads creates a balanced compromise – particularly between necessary warning protection and operationally related soiling.

Like a second skin

Working with the enormous hoses and equipment is demanding: navigating ladders up to the aircraft wing, working on knees or overhead. "Workwear must be lightweight and ergonomic. Mobility, comfort and practicability were non-negotiable for us," confirms Hampel.

"The workwear was introduced exclusively based on positive feedback from employees after a trial phase," explains Chaborski. "Compared to our previously used clothing, Fristads multinorm clothing is much more comfortable to wear, shows less soiling and has convinced us with a better overall appearance."

Teamwork makes the difference

"Protective clothing is often perceived by employees as an imposed hurdle. We wanted to introduce workwear that is worn willingly," says Hampel. The higher wearing comfort is also reflected in longer durability and reduced wear. Fristads is described as "fashionable", thanks to its stretch properties "light and loose" to wear, and "very balanced in terms of value for money".

Sustainability as a principle

As an internationally operating company, it is important to Skytanking "not to promote production in countries that violate labour law, moral or ethical principles as well as environmental protection regulations," says Hampel. "Production facilities in the Middle East including Turkey as well as in Central, Middle and East Asia were not an option. Through sustainable, environmentally conscious and exploitation-free procured workwear, we can already fulfil all obligations of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG). This principle matches ideally with Fristads."

The airport essentials

The multinorm workwear from Fristads consists predominantly of the Flamestat series with inherent flame protection, available in various high-visibility classes (1, 2, 3). The portfolio includes:

• Multinorm Flamestat High Vis Stretch Trousers Cl.1 2162 ATHF and Stretch Bib & Brace Cl.1 2168 ATHF: High freedom of movement, flame-retardant, antistatic

• Flamestat Long Sleeve T-Shirt 7072 TFLH: Soft multinorm shirt with inherent flame protection

• Flamestat Fleece Jacket 4073 ATF: Flame-retardant, warm midlayer

• Flamestat High Vis Airtech Jacket Cl.3 4325 ATHR: Waterproof, windproof, breathable, PFAS-free

• Flame High Vis Jacket Cl. 3 4584 FLAM: Robust multinorm work jacket with high cotton comfort

• Flame High Vis Winter Jacket Cl.3 4588 FLAM: With extra high arc flash protection ELIM 43 cal, APC 2

Conclusion

"One must recognise that an ostensibly cheaper product of inferior quality ultimately proves more expensive than a higher-quality product with higher acquisition costs, when, for example, a T-shirt scores with triple the lifespan," says Thomas Hampel in conclusion. "We would therefore choose Fristads again and again."