Fuels flight more than gas and go operation

Published Oct. 7, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Shaun Emery
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- An air force can have the fastest jets, the most lethal bombers and the largest cargo aircraft, but without fuel to fly, these planes won't even get off the ground.

The 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight makes sure Air Force aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan don't suffer this fate. In other words, the flight keeps them gassed and keeps them flying.

"If we don't put gas in the planes, they don't move cargo," said Lt. Col. Chad Morris, 386th ELRS commander. "The fuels flight is one of the critical pieces necessary to get our ground commanders what they need, safely and on time."

The unit pumps more than 120,000 gallons of fuel to an average of thirty aircraft every day. But, before the fuel can be put to use, it is checked to ensure it meets quality standards. In his fuels laboratory, Staff Sgt. Craig Guthrie, 386th ELRS FMF lab technician, runs the fuel through a variety of tests.

"It's imperative we make sure the fuel is good before we use it," he said. "If we don't it could possibly cause the plane to go down."

Sergeant Guthrie collects a gallon and a quart of any new fuel being received. He tests the fuel to make sure it doesn't contain too many solids or particles. He then checks the fuel's flashpoint and makes sure the amount of Fuel System Icing Inhibiter and antistatic additives meet set standards.

Ensuring fuel quality is a critical mission within the fuels flight. Because of this, Sergeant Guthrie is on call 24/7 to check any fuel concerns incoming flight crews may have.

"I've been called in the middle of the night to run tests on fuel," he said. "There could be hydraulic oil in the fuel lines or too many solids. If we don't check it out, it could be bad for the aircraft and the crew."

Whether it's in the lab checking quality or on the line dispensing fuel, safety is the flight's number one priority, said Tech. Sgt. Ernie Gilmore, 386th ELRS FMF section supervisor.

Requests for fuel from the Maintenance Operations Center are received in the flight's fuels service center. These requests are filled and delivered to waiting aircraft in one of two ways: The flight's fleet of fuel trucks, which can hold up to 6,000 gallons of fuel each, or the Fuels Operational Readiness Capability Equipment, allows aircraft to draw fuel from 200,000-gallon bladders on the flight line.

"The C-17 Globemaster IIIs here usually take a pretty big load of fuel," Sergeant Gilmore said. "It could take anywhere from two to five trucks. The FORCE system improves our turnaround time so those aircraft can get loaded and back in the air."

Minimal turn-around time is important, but not at the expense of safety.

"It's important that we're all on the same page," Sergeant Gilmore said. "While not as combustible as gasoline, our JP-8 aircraft fuel is still hazardous."

Once an aircraft is filled up the flight moves on to the next one. It's a hot and dirty job, standing for hours on the flight line, but it's an important and necessary one.

"Back home you sometimes forget how important the fuels mission is," said Senior Airman Travis Mitchell, 386th ELRS FMF distribution operator. "I really didn't think about it until I got here. We are responsible for getting the fuel in these aircraft that are delivering troops and supplies to the AOR. It's a pretty important job."

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