Mission Spotlight POL: Fuel the fight

  • Published
  • By Airman Ryan Conroy
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  With more than 500,000 gallons of gasoline pumping throughout the base monthly, the work of Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants Airmen can be compared to a heart pumping blood throughout the body.

Without a functioning heart, the body suffocates. Without POL, the base would stagnate.

"Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants powers movement on the base and enable the rest of the wing to do their jobs," said Senior Master Sgt. Bruce Dollard, 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels management superintendent.

The 31st LRS fuels management flight processed more than 7,600 aircraft and 20,000 government owned vehicle fuels transactions in fiscal year 2013, contributing to the average of more than 9 million gallons of fuel used per year.

The fuels aspect of POL is broken into three sections: fuels laboratory section, the fuels facilities section, and the fuels distribution section. The unit's responsibilities span from keeping jets in the air to keeping the 855 GOVs running on base.

Fuels Laboratory

The fuels laboratory ensures the quality of incoming fuel from an outside source by performing a series of tests, to include determining the lowest temperature the fuel can be used in. This isn't something a car owner would worry about, but for an aircraft flying at high altitudes and temperatures below freezing, it could mean life or death.

"Fuel is a lot cheaper than equipment," said Staff Sgt. David Ambrusko, 31st LRS NCO in charge of fuels laboratory. "It is extremely important we test the fuel to ensure aircraft have the best available fuel, that engines aren't exploding and water doesn't contaminate the fuel. It's cheaper to test and replace the fuel than it is to replace a multi-million dollar aircraft."

Fuels Facilities Section

Fuel is most often delivered through an underground hydrant system called a pantograph, which is managed by the fuels facilities section. Fuel runs from 10 storage tanks, holding between 600,000 and 1.3 million gallons, to multiple hard-top refueling stations on the flightline.

"We maintain all the pipelines so there are no problems delivering fuel to the flightline," said Airman 1st Class Devin Brown-Redfearn, 31st LRS fuels facility journeyman. "We ensure there is no water in the fuel or debris in the bottom of the tanks. We hold all fuel for the base including aircraft and government vehicles."

Fuels Distribution Section

The most visible aspect of fuels is the distribution of fuel to aircraft from 13 R-11 refueling trucks, which hold up to 6,000 gallons and are able to service up to five F-16 Fighting Falcons at a time. Airmen fill up the trucks with the use of the pantographs and distribute the fuel anywhere it's needed on base.

"We do approximately 25 refuels a day depending on the flying schedule," said Dalsing. "My favorite part is being on the flightline and close to a multi-million dollar machine. It's an awesome feeling knowing you impact the mission every time a jet takes off or lands."