Mobility Warriors: Deployed fuels flight more than gas and go operation

Published Sept. 14, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Shaun Emery
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- All the cargo in the world can be loaded on an aircraft, but it can't get off the ground without a full tank of gas.

From receiving to distributing, members of the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight control the fuel necessary to get valuable resources delivered to combatant commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"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."

Thousands of gallons of fuel are pumped into base every day. But before that 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 Fuels Management Flight lab technician deployed from Air Mobility Command's Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., runs the fuel through a gamut of tests.

"It's imperative we make sure the fuel is good before we use it," said Sergeant Guthrie. "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 test the fuel to make sure it doesn't contain too many solids, or particles. He checks the fuel's flashpoint and makes sure the amount of Fuel System Icing Inhibiter and antistatic additives meet their set standards.

Because fuel quality is so critical, Sergeant Guthrie is on call 24 hours a day 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 Fuels Management Flight section supervisor deployed from Little Rock AFB, Ark.

The fuels flight refuels an average of thirty aircraft a day, pumping out more than 120,000 gallons of fuel.

Requests for fuel from the Maintenance Operations Center are received in flight's fuels service center. Once they're given the aircraft's location, fuels specialists are out the door.

Fuel gets delivered to aircraft by one of two ways. The flight's fleet of fuel trucks can hold up to 6,000 gallons of fuel a piece. But if that isn't enough, pilots can utilize the Fuels Operational Readiness Capability Equipment. The FORCE system allows aircraft to draw fuel from bladders on the flight line that hold more than 200,000 gallons.

"The C-17's here usually take a pretty big load of fuel," said Sergeant Gilmore. "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. Before each refueling, crew chiefs marshal in the fuel trucks. Not until the tires are chalked and the aircrew gives their safety briefing, can fuel be distributed. Once they're good to go, fuels specialists along with aircrew, monitor refueling operations.

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

Once one 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 one that Senior Airman Travis Mitchell, 386th ELRS Fuels Management Flight distribution operator deployed from Little Rock AFB, Ark., has found new passion for, since being deployed.

"Back at home station, you sometimes forget how important the fuels mission is," he said. "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."