Fuel flight critical to mission success at MAFB

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Wesley Wright
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Fuel -- without it, many missions here would grind to a halt.

From JP-8 to flex fuel (E85) to diesel, the Airmen of the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron's fuels flight are the base's one-stop-shop when it comes to fuel.

"Our number one priority is getting gas into planes," said Tech. Sgt. Charles Sheridan, 5th LRS fuels flight resource control center noncommissioned officer-in-charge. "However, we're the 5th Bomb Wing's point-of-contact for fuel-related issues from ground fuels to getting customers their vehicle identification link keys. We do it all."

The fuels flight maintains two large JP-8 aircraft-fuel storage tanks in the fuels compound. A fuel line ferries the fuel to two smaller storage tanks called "hydrants" near the mass parking area on the flightline. From there, it is piped to individual outlets on the MPA.

"We work closely with the maintenance operations control center," Sergeant Sheridan said. "Depending on the type of aircraft, where it's located and how much fuel it needs determines whether or not we will dispatch a refueling truck or a hydrant-servicing vehicle."

While getting the fuel to the aircraft is important, it would do no good if the fuel was substandard. The job of ensuring the base's fuel is up to standard falls to the Airmen who work in the fuels flight lab.

"We check to make sure the fuel has the right amount of everything it's supposed to have," said Airman 1st Class Allen Simms. "In fuels we have three main things we check for: fuel system icing inhibitor, static dissipating inhibitor, and conductivity."

Airman Simms said he takes pride in his work and takes it very seriously.

"If something was wrong with the fuel, it could cause major mission impact," he said. "We check our equipment weekly to make sure the equipment is performing as it is supposed to."

The fuels flight is also responsible for the base's VIL-key system for government vehicles as well as ordering standard and new types of fuel for the government service station.

"During the summer months, we order bio-diesel for the service station," Sergeant Sheridan said. "We are bound by Department of Defense environmental acts. When DOD comes out with fuel-related environmental executive orders like the one for E85, we make sure the base is in compliance by ordering the fuel for the base. "

In all, the fuels flight processes more than 50,000 gallons of ground fuel and more than one million gallons of aviation fuel monthly.

Sergeant Sheridan sees the flight's role as critical to mission success.

"The number one thing they teach you in technical training is pilots are pedestrians without POL (petroleum, oil and lubricants)," he said. "Our job is critical on the ground-fuel side as well; if we order the wrong type of diesel, it will begin to gel and become unusable if it gets cold enough."

According to the fuels-flight Airmen, the job has its challenges but is also rewarding as well.

"You have to really pay attention to detail," said Airman 1st Class Jacob Hefley, 5th LRS fuels distribution operator. "If you let something slip, then it reduces mission capability and we can't have that. However, seeing those planes get in the air because we put gas in them is very rewarding. You know you've been a part of making the mission a success."