386th AEW wing slated as next generation of fuels mobility equipment

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mark Getsy
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing will become the test wing for the next generation of fuels mobility support equipment.

The fuels operational resources capability equipment is scheduled to be installed by Jan. 3 with an operational utility evaluation immediately following.

The equipment is designed to improve fuel throughput capability and reduce the number of storage bladders, personnel and mobile refueling trucks, said Master Sgt. Ken Standifer, 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels branch. Fuel is pumped from the operational storage bladders into the servicing platform modules. From here, fuels Airmen can refuel the aircraft the same way they did as if the were using the fuel trucks.

“Before, fuel would be pumped into the bladder from a commercial truck, then pumped into a fuel truck. The truck would then refuel the aircraft and return to the bladder to be refilled,” Sgt. Standifer said. “With (the new equipment), we will be able to issue directly to the aircraft as well as utilize it as a refueling unit fill-stand. This eliminates the double-handling of fuel and increases our overall capability to refuel aircraft.”

The equipment is scheduled to replace the older fuels mobility support equipment which dates back to the 1960s. A Fuels Capabilities Study, commissioned by the Air Staff in September 2003, identified the need for 81 FORCE sets capable of receiving and delivering a sustained 400,000 gallons of fuel per day from the fence line to the flight line.

According to Master Sgt. Ken Standifer, 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Branch, an Air Force Fuels Support Equipment Working Group determined that U.S. Central Command would be the best and most logical area to perform the testing and the wing here was selected. He added that the results of the evaluation will be documented by members of the 33rd Test Squadron from Air Mobility Command.

“Testing will continue from setup through 90 days of operations,” said Sergeant Standifer. “The system will perform refueling operations under a variety of different conditions and be used on a variety of different aircraft and refuelers.”

To prepare for the new equipment, a local contractor was hired to clear the area and construct a fuel containment area able to hold five, 200,000 gallon fuel bladders. Sergeant Standifer said they are also installing an above ground fuel pipeline to be run from the bulk fuel storage to the operations storage area during FORCE setup.”

“The system will be setup and operated by the fuels personnel station here,” said Sergeant Standifer. “Members of the Entwistle Corporation, the company awarded the contract in September 2004, will provide us some training on the equipment and then we’ll get busy.”