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380AEW Article

Hot-Pit refueling certification expands 380th AEW advantages

  • Published
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing successfully completed an intraservice hot-pit refueling certification, enhancing joint operational readiness and sustaining the force’s ability to rapidly project power — a critical component of the U.S. military’s integrated deterrence framework.

Service members from the 380th AEW A4, Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, Expeditionary Operational Support Squadron, Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron and the 2nd Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Shikra worked together for several weeks to certify eight hot-pit refueling spots for 11 different aircraft.

Through planning and collaboration, the hot-pit certification team conducted site surveys, refined procedures, and ensured a seamless certification demonstration – opening up a wide range of new and improved opportunities for the sister services.

"This expands their operational range, requires minimal support, and offers flexibility for operations planners in selecting optimal locations for operations or refueling," said the 380th EMXS commander. “Moreover, our collaboration with the U.S. Army’s TF Shikra ensures these capabilities are available not only to U.S. Air Force aircraft but also to Army aircraft, enhancing joint operational effectiveness."

Hot-pit refueling consists of fueling an aircraft immediately after landing while keeping its engines running, drastically reducing ground time. Unlike traditional "cold" refueling, which requires engines to be shut down, hot-pit refueling enables aircraft to be refueled and relaunched quickly to support the next Air Tasking Order.

This approach not only maximizes tactical advantage but also promotes valuable integration across specialties, enhancing the 380th AEW's overall proficiency.

“This experience has been incredibly valuable, as opportunities to collaborate with professionals from such diverse career fields toward enhancing the 380th AEW’s operational capabilities are rare,” said the 380th AEW A4 Quality Assurance chief inspector. “Additionally, certifying hot-pits at the 380th AEW has given us institutional knowledge which we can use to facilitate certifying hot pits at other locations if deemed necessary.”

Achieving certification for hot-pit refueling significantly enhances the operational readiness of the 380th AEW while also strengthening interoperability and mission efficiency for its joint and coalition partners, supporting a more agile and resilient force posture.

“Having this capability will open doors to bilateral hot-pit operations here at the 380th AEW,” said the 380th AEW/A4 director. “In a contingency scenario, it also enhances the U.S. and its partners ability to project power and generate  sorties within the CENTCOM AOR.”

Building on this achievement, the certification exemplifies the 380th AEW’s commitment to excellence and reinforces its key role in bolstering regional security and strategic defense initiatives.