Airmen keep fuel flowing freely

Airman 1st Class David Anastasio, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels systems distribution operator, moves hose into position to connect with the underground hydrant fuel system on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2013. The hydrant system is capable of pumping 900 gallons of fuel a minute. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney)

Airmen keep fuel flowing freely

Airman 1st Class David Anastasio, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels systems distribution operator, connects a fuel hose to the underground hydrant system on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2013. The 455th ELRS Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants section refuels an average of 135 aircraft every day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney)

Airmen keep fuel flowing freely

Staff Sgt. Chris Bates, 455th ELRS fuels laboratory NCO in charge, takes a fuel sample for testing on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 21, 2013. The fuel must be tested daily for contraction or expansion due to the weather, which affects the net amount of fuel available for aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney)

Airmen keep fuel flowing freely

Staff Sgt. Chris Bates, 455th ELRS fuels laboratory NCO in charge, uses a hydrometer to test a sample of aircraft fuel on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 21, 2013. This test is done every day to measure the net amount of fuel available, which can be affected by expansion or contraction due to weather conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney)

Airmen keep fuel flowing freely

Airman 1st Class David Anastasio, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels systems distribution operator, monitors the fuel being offloaded onto an aircraft on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2013. The 455th ELRS Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants section refuels an average of 135 aircraft every day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney)

Airmen keep fuel flowing freely

Airman 1st Class David Anastasio, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels systems distribution operator, rewinds a fuel hose on Bagram Airfield, Feb. 20, 2013. In his career as a Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant Airman, Anastasio has distributed two million gallons of fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney)

Airmen keep fuel flowing freely

Published Feb. 21, 2013
By By Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- When an aircraft lands here, one of the first things it needs is more fuel.

The Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants section work every day to ensure the Department of Defense's busiest single-runway airfield is always ready to fly.

The POL section averages 135 refuelings every day, moving 84 million gallons of fuel in 2012.

Bagram is unique among deployed locations by virtue of having a hydrant system of fuel delivery supplementing the ubiquitous tanker trucks. Similar to a stateside gas station, underground pipes lead out to the aircraft parking ramps.

A heavy cargo aircraft such as a C-17 Globemaster III can require up to 12,000 gallons of fuel. Staff Sgt. Chris Bates, 455th ELRS fuels laboratory NCO in charge, remembers deploying here before the system was put in place.

"None of it was here four years ago," Bates said, noting that the section's tanker trucks only hold 6,000 gallons. "We'd have to use two trucks and two drivers [for each aircraft]."
Today, the hydrant system is capable of pumping 900 gallons of fuel a minute, greatly expediting the process.

"Now we're at the max of our heavy capacity," Bates said. "We're getting the planes off the ground that much faster."

Master Sgt. Robert Armentrout, 455th ELRS fuels operations section chief, also recalled how things have changed from the last time he came to Bagram.

"Last time I was here [in 2003] there were only four Air Force POL," he said. The POL shop now has 58 Airmen and contractors to service the aircraft.

"The amount of aircraft and our role has changed dramatically," he said, noting that such an increase in personnel can pose a challenge.

"People come from different backgrounds and different ops tempos at their home station so here the ops tempo is higher for some," Armentrout said. However, the Airmen soon come together in pursuit of the mission, and a little bit of friendly competition to see who can pump the most fuel. Armentrout said there are one, two and three-million gallon clubs, as well as a Pumper of the Month award.

Armentrout also mentioned how the hydrant system has improved POL operations here, especially as cargo flights are expected to increase as retrograde operations speed up.

"We're going to have increased [numbers of] C-17 and C-5 aircraft coming in," he said. "The hydrant system is going to be extremely valuable."

Editor's Note: This is the second story in a three-part series about how the Airmen of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing operate the busiest single-runway airfield in the Department of Defense.