Fueling the base

Published May 6, 2009
By Airman 1st Class Chuck Broadway
9th RW Public Affairs

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., -- The 9th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants flight provides fuel to all government operated equipment on base.

"Anything that requires fuel to run is provided by POL," Staff Sgt. Samuel Wilson, the 9th LRS NCO in charge of the fuels laboratory said.

POL supplies fuel not only for all Beale aircraft, but for all government operated vehicles, generators and military service stations where GOVs refuel around base. Getting fuel to the equipment is a process which requires testing and analysis to ensure the best product.

Four different grades of fuel are used at Beale. Diesel, regular gasoline, standard jet fuel and another jet fuel specifically for the U-2. Everyday a sample of each type of fuel is taken to the flight's laboratory for analysis.

"A pilot doesn't want to be at 70,000 feet when he finds out there's water in the fuel," said Master Sgt. Bill Lockard, 9th LRS distribution section chief.

The lab specialists check samples for water and other contaminants using seven different testing methods. One of the methods used involves placing a fuel sample on an orange test pad coated with a reactor substance. The pad is then placed under a black light which causes any contamination to appear a fluorescent yellow color.

If a sample shows no contamination, the fuel is pumped into a refueling truck and then sent to whatever equipment needs to be fueled.

The POL flight has 12 trucks to use for their mission, which equates to a more than $2 million vehicle inventory. A small maintenance shop in the flight's work yard houses all the tools and equipment needed to maintain the trucks. On a daily basis crew members inspect every truck and perform routine service such as checking fluid levels and pumping equipment to make sure they're in proper working order.

Normally, the person in charge of the fleet is an NCO who's experienced in the operations of the shop. At Beale however, two Airmen are in charge of the entire fleet and because of their extensive knowledge and work ethic, they have the full backing of their leadership.

"They have the capabilities to manage the fleet," Sergeant Lockard said. "It's no easy task and is crucial to our success. I have complete confidence in them."

If anything is found wrong with the trucks, the shop is equipped with the tools to fix minor problems on the spot and return the truck to the fleet.

Keeping the trucks operating is crucial because it affects mission completion and the POL flight has a response time they must meet when refueling aircraft.

According to Air Force standards, the POL flight must be able to respond and refuel an aircraft within 30 minutes. Once the truck arrives at the aircraft, it takes anywhere from six-to-10 minutes to refuel a T-38 Talon, and approximately 30 minutes to refuel the U-2 Dragon Lady.

Amidst all the fuel that gets used on base, someone has to keep track of it. The POL flight's Fuels Support Center tracks every gallon that comes and goes through Beale.
"We're the focal point of all flightline and ground refueling operations," Staff Sgt. Anthony Smith, a 9th LRS fuels accountant said.

Fuel orders are placed through the Defense Energy Support Center in Virginia. Some fuel comes by truck and other types come via pipeline to an off-base location and when needed is pumped into the tanks in the work yard.

Each flying squadron has funds designated for fuel and is assigned an organizational code to place orders. Orders and usage are tracked on a database at the POL office and billing is controlled by the DESC.

In addition to tracking fuel requirements and usage, the FSC conducts a daily inventory of all the flight's assets and also dispatches trucks for refueling missions.

The multiple sections of the POL flight make a lengthy process shorter by coordinating and communicating within the flight. Each section has a specific purpose and concentrates all efforts to perfect their portion of daily procedures. Without uncontaminated fuel being provided in a timely manner by properly working equipment, Beale's flying missions as well as other sources of power could not be completed.

Keep on pumping.