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Airmen deliver fuel for flight

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eric Summers Jr.
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Imagine that whenever your car was low on gas that you could just make a call and fuel would be delivered to your doorstep.

A similar service -- substitute aircraft for a car -- is what Airmen from 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron's aerial bulk fuel delivery system (ABFDS) are responsible for throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The specialized fuels teams are an essential capability in the supply chain to provide customers downrange with fuel requirements to meet mission demands, according to Tech. Sgt. Kelston McDonald, 379 ELRS ABFDS fuels team lead, deployed from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

Maintaining consistent fuel resupply in these areas can be extremely difficult, he said. This is where the ABFDS missions come into play.

"We basically support the remotely piloted aircraft downrange in the entire CENTCOM theater," said the Stamps, Ark., native. "We turn heavy aircraft into a flying fuel truck."

He said his team is in essence a '911 call center' for the CENTCOM theater when units cannot be resupplied by truck or pipeline. Because the flying mission cannot stop, his unit must always be at the ready.

Two-man teams turn C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs into flying fuel tanks.

"[We deliver to] wherever it's needed, if they have a runway that can support a heavy aircraft," McDonald said. "As long as we can fly in there safely there is no limit to where we can fly."

A typical mission begins when a downrange unit submits in a request to the Combined Air and Space Operations Center at this undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

Fuel specialists then perform a 24-to-48 hour test of fuel bladders before loading them in an aircraft. The fuel bladders, made of rubber and self sealing, can withstand small arms fire and maintain atmospheric pressure in case of a change of air pressure in flight. The bladders also have an air eliminator vent system so that any vapors built up in the bladder are expended outside the aircraft to lessen the chance of an explosion.

"We secure the bladder and everything down so it won't slide around," said McDonald. "Then we land at base 'X' and have the capability to fuel anything from a fuel truck to an organizational tank -- making the system very versatile."

The Airmen can deliver various types of fuel, ranging from JP8 aviation fuel, to diesel and gasoline. A primary customer is the MQ-1B Predator. The Predator is a remotely piloted, long-endurance system capable of performing close air support, air interdiction and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

"Today we are receiving aviation gasoline for the MQ-1B Predator," said Master Sgt. David Van Winkle, 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuel manager, a Chanute, Kan., native deployed from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, during a mission downrange Oct. 21, 2011. "This is not typical fuel delivery so it is a very unique opportunity."

Airman 1st Class Shane Ashton, 386th ELRS, deployed form Barksdale, La., said this deployment has provided a unique learning experience - much different than he encounters at his home station.

"I like learning new things everyday and this is important to know because handling fuels can be a very dangerous mission," said the Lowell, Mass., native. "It really makes me feel like I have a special purpose."

McDonald said the job is special to him because he knows he has a direct impact on the mission. If the aircraft doesn't fly because of a lack of fuel, then top cover isn't there for the troops downrange.

"It also breaks the norm," he said. "You're always out there refueling aircraft on the flightline. The planes take off, you know you're giving them gas to support the mission but you never get to see it first- hand.

"From here you're actually filling the bags and actually get to fly with the plane and deliver it [the fuel] straight to the customer," he added.

The ABFDS Airmen receive formal training and must obtain flying status before becoming an active member of the team.