934th AW selected as demonstration site for Jet A fuel

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kerry Bartlett and Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Williams
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Minneapolis --  The Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP Air Reserve Station is one of four Air Force bases selected to begin a demonstration this month for commercial jet fuel, known as Jet A, as a replacement for JP-8, a military specification fuel.

As part of the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program, Air Force officials estimate a fuel savings of $40 million per year if the program is fully implemented.
The station's primary role in the demonstration will be the delivery-truck injection system where additives are added when aircraft are being refueled.
Master Sgt. William Frederick, 934th Airlift Wing fuels superintendent, thinks it is a great idea.

"It's an initiative to help save the government money and I think it will be a great thing if it pans out right," Sergeant Frederick said. "It will be neat to be able to say that we were part of the transition when it is all complete."

He said there are a couple of additional things that the Airmen in his department need to incorporate in their daily operation like taking a daily sample from the bulk fuel storage tank and analyzing the sample for the freeze point.

Currently, the Air Force uses JP-8 fuel, which is similar to the Jet A fuel used in commercial aviation. JP-8 differs from Jet A through the addition of an icing inhibitor, corrosion inhibitor, lubricants and anti-static agents. Jet A has been approved for use in the C-130, C-5 and C-17 airframes. Aircraft manufacturers Lockheed and Boeing have both stated that there are no impediments to making Jet A the primary fuel on those airframes.

"JP-8 and Jet A are very similar, with the main difference being the fuel freezing point. We will be making sure the jet fuel is above the -40 degrees celsius standard," Sergeant Frederick said.

"Anytime these airplanes go cross-country and they stop at municipal airports, that's all they are getting is straight Jet A," David Hunter, 934th AW fuels manager, said. "The manufacturers of these engines have already approved Jet A for use and it's in the technical orders."

According to the Air Force Petroleum Agency, the Air Force is the largest consumer of jet fuel in the Department of Defense. In Fiscal Year 2008, the Air Force purchased $7 billion of the $9 billion in fuel purchased by the DoD, and consumed more than two billion gallons of the three billion gallons purchased that year. AFPA believes that small savings per gallon add up to a large fleet-wide savings.
"The fluctuation in oil prices can mean big bills for the Air Force and Department of Defense," said Jack Lavin, recently retired AFPA deputy director. "A one-penny increase in the standard price per gallon for fuel can translate to a fuel cost increase in millions of dollars."

Master Sgt. Danny Walker, AFPA Jet A initiative program manager said that commercial Jet A is more readily available in the continental U.S., gallon-for-gallon, than JP-8. Increased competition for U.S. government fuel contracts and lower transportation costs will save money following the Jet A transition across the United States.

"Right now there are only a few refineries that deal with JP-8 and they have the market cornered. The Defense Energy Support Center, which owns all of the fuel for the DoD make the contracts with the different refineries," said Hunter. "Local refineries that already make Jet A could bid on the contracts and we wouldn't have to truck it in from other states like we do now. If they get enough local refineries to bid on it [Jet A] then we will save more money."

The Minnesota demonstration is a joint Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard effort. The 934th AW owns the fuel storage tanks, and the Air National Guard's 133rd Airlift Wing uses the facility to fill the refueling trucks.
"Since the fuel tanks belong to us, the Guard will also be a part of the demonstration," said Hunter.

Dover Air Force Base, Del.; Little Rock AFB, Ark. and McChord AFB, Wash., are the other demonstration sites. The demonstrations are slated to run for 12 months, at which point DESC officials will review the data and determine future action.

Portions os this article were taken from the AFNEWS story by by Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle,
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs.