Courtesy Photo | Senior Airman Jeremy Miller, fuels technician, and Tech. Sgt. Richard Blake, NCO in...... read more read more
Fuel keeps the world moving and on the go. With the global mission of the 445th Airlift Wing, it is essential that the wing has the resources needed to keep flying around the world.
One critical component that keeps operations running smoothly in the wing is the 445th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s Fuels Management Flight. The flight performed their November 2020 unit training assembly during the week, Nov. 5 and 6, 2020.
“Performing our UTA during the week and having contractors readily available allowed the Airmen to complete the bulk petroleum contingency report (REPOL),” said 2nd Lt. Libya Binford, 445th LRS fuels management operations manager.
Binford described the REPOL report as a monthly inventory snapshot to show the fuels assets each installation has available.
“The report accounts for the jet fuel, diesel, unleaded gasoline, liquid oxygen, de-icing fluids as well as personnel, equipment and vehicle inventory for the base,” said Binford.
Producing the REPOL report is a great opportunity for the fuels management flight as it allows them to inspect every aspect of the fuels systems housed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
During the UTA, the fuels management Airmen performed quality testing on the liquid oxygen (LOX) and serviced the systems and cryogenic components. The storage and management of all different types of fuels is a full-time job. The flight includes traditional reservists, Air Reserve Technicians, Active Guard Reserve Airmen and contractors from the Defense Logistics Agency, all working together.
“These LOX carts are installed on the aircraft and are the source of oxygen for aircrew members during flight,” explained Binford. The fuels systems and equipment at Wright-Patterson undergo extensive daily, weekly and monthly inspection and testing.
Binford said contractors have been utilized since 1979 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and are responsible for all fuels operations for the 88th Air Base Wing.
“Having two Airmen from the 445th Fuels Management Flight work for the contractor has vastly improved our relationship and increased training opportunities.”
Tech Sgt. Justin Rogers, NCO in-charge of the fuels information service center said because the flight manages so many different types of fuels and resources, including seven Jet AA fuel tanks and two ground fuels service stations, the system is quite complex.
“The flight manages more than two million gallons of fuel annually. Our fuels are piped throughout the ground in a loop and progress through fuel separators to ensure the fuels are very, very clean and no contaminates go into the aircraft,” said Rogers.
The training proved beneficial to all involved.
“Training during the week has given us a better opportunity to get hands-on with more aircraft runs and allows us to build relationships with our partner contractors,” said Rogers.
Story was originally published on Page 4 of the December 2020 issue of the “Buckeye Flyer.” It may also be found at https://www.445aw.afrc.af.mil/Portals/117/Documents/buckeye/2020/December%202020%20BF_Flyer.pdf?ver=4UPH72gCas5jBDdbh2COEQ%3d%3d.
| Date Taken: | 12.29.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 12.29.2020 10:55 |
| Story ID: | 385980 |
| Location: | WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO, US |
| Hometown: | FAIRBORN, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 30 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Fuels management flight keeps 445th C-17s flying, by A1C Erin Zimpfer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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