Deployed fuels flight makes airlift delivery Published Feb. 15, 2006 By Tech. Sgt. Veronica A. Aceveda 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- When fuel supplies are not available in the region, tactical and ground forces rely on the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. A team is always on standby to fulfill an aerial bulk fuels delivery system request. The team consists of two fuels technicians who have undergone special training for this type of delivery, which involves hauling thousands of gallons of fuel in an aircraft. Staff Sgt. Erika Busbee and Senior Airman Michael Roberts from the 379th Fuels Management Flight make up one such team. “We both volunteered for this assignment,” said Airman Roberts, who is deployed from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. The day Airman Roberts arrived here, he was on board his first fuel delivery mission within 12 hours. “It was a little intimidating,” he said. At the time, Airman Roberts boarded the aircraft not knowing whether or not he would have to use any of his specialty certifications such as altitude chamber, water survival or physiology training. Since then, he and Sergeant Busbee have both flown several “Bladder-Bird” missions, a nickname for the specialized fuel deliveries made by air. Both say the main hazards of the job take some getting used to. “One moment you’re flying level and the next moment you’re nose-dived,” said Sergeant Busbee, recalling her first combat landing in January. Just as the fuels specialists must acclimate themselves to the flying realm, aircrews must adapt to the conditions that come with hauling fuel bladders. “I’ve never carried that much fuel in the back of the airplane before, about 20,000 lbs of gas,” said Maj. James Ruggiero. He was the aircraft commander of a C-130 Hercules aircrew tasked with hauling an 18-foot bladder to Afghanistan in February. “Thinking about having all that flammable liquid inside a big airplane, we were grateful to have some technicians that knew what they were doing back there,” Major Ruggiero said. While C-5 Galaxy aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs can both haul bladders, C-130s are predominantly used to haul them here. In addition to prepping and filling the bladder, Sergeant Busbee and Airman Roberts must load and operate the pumping module used to fill and empty the bladder. When Sergeant Busbee and Airman Roberts flew with Major Ruggiero, they monitored the fuels system for leaks and ensured the safe distribution of nearly 3,000 gallons of aviation fuel. It took only 15 to 20 minutes to deliver once the aircraft reached its downrange destination. Other types of fuel which can be moved through the air include diesel, jet fuel and unleaded gasoline. Fuels delivery specialists must know the specific safety precautions for each grade of fuel. In addition, they make sure the required weights and dimensions of the pallets, bladder bags and pump modules are adhered to and reported to aircraft loadmasters.