Tech. Sgt. Thomas Capaldo inserts test tubes into a device that conducts a sulfur analysis on fuels June 12, 2013, at the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Air Force Petroleum Laboratory in Southwest Asia. This test is one of 15 conducted to ensure the quality of fuels used on aircraft throughout the area of responsibility. Capaldo is the 379th ELRS/AFPA NCO in charge of fuels, deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bahja J. Jones)
Tech. Sgt. Rocky Sasse tightens a canister to a device used to test gases for purity, odor, moisture and contamination June 12, 2013, at the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Air Force Petroleum Agency Laboratory in Southwest Asia. Sasse is the 379th ELRS/AFPA NCO in charge of gases, deployed from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bahja J. Jones)
by Senior Airman Bahja J. Jones
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
6/22/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- Aircrew members depend on several moving parts to ensure an aircraft is properly maintained and prepped for a safe mission. A part of this preparation is ensuring that the fuel and oxygen within the aircraft are safe and free of contaminates that could negatively affect the mission.
Airman at the the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Air Force Petroleum Agency laboratory, or ELRS/AFPA, have a critical mission analyzing aircraft fuel and oxygen samples to support U.S. Central Command missions.
"Our lab is a world-class facility containing more than $750,000 in equipment, and has the capability to detect trace amounts of contaminates in fuel and oxygen samples," said Maj. Joshua Kittle, the 379th ELRS/AFPA chief, deployed from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
Fuels-lab Airmen conduct tests to ensure the fuel and oxygen is clean, which helps flight crews breath easier. Once the lab obtains the samples, they run a series of tests to check for signs of contamination. For fuels, they run a total of 15 different tests, and for gases, up to eight. The tests take several hours to complete.
One test requires running fuels through a Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Tester, or JFTOT. The JFTOT is intended to simulate the pressure and temperature environment experienced by the fuel as it circulates through an aircraft.
"If we see pressure build-up, it's a sign of contamination," said Tech. Sgt. Thomas Capaldo, the 379th ERLS/AFPA NCO in charge of fuels, deployed from Dyess AFB, Texas.
After the samples are analyzed, any test failures are reported to the AFPA technical division at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, who interprets the results, and provides corrective action back to the area of responsibility.
"If we weren't here, it would take weeks to complete mission critical tasks," said Tech. Sgt. Rocky Sasse, the 379th ELRS/AFPA NCO in charge gases, deployed from McConnell AFB, Kan. "Each sample we test saves the Air Force time and money."
Without the 379th ELRS aerospace fuels lab, the process to have fuels tested would take up to four weeks and in turn, delay critical missions within the area of responsibility, or AOR.
"Fuel can't be used until the area lab says it's okay to put in the aircraft," Kittle said. "If our lab wasn't in the AOR, it could take weeks for that sample to arrive stateside and get tested. Meanwhile, the aircraft would be burning up the fuel already cleared, resulting in a situation where there is no more cleared fuel."
This is the first all-military rotation in the fuels laboratory as the AFPA is typically staffed by civilians.
"(The) AFPA mission is new to us ... this rotation has presented us with some unique learning challenges," Kittle said. "It's given us a chance to see a different side of the Air Force, and opportunities to bring our experiences to the AFPA mission."
