Saving AF dollars…and gallons

by Staff Sgt. Warren Spearman
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

In these times of saving money and being environmentally conscious, the Air Force has taken steps to implement both measures at the same time. The 86th Airlift Wing is boldly being proactive in its approach to these measures.

One of these approaches is the fuel efficiency program implemented by Air Mobility Command. The program is designed to document and limit the amount of costly overfuels on each air mobility aircraft, yet still safely operates the airplane to accomplish the mission.

Air mobility units report their fuel and cargo loads to an online AMC fuel efficiency tracker. AMC’s requirement is data for 80 percent of the missions flown must be uploaded into their system. The 86th Airlift Wing C-130s reporting falls between 95 to 100 percent, which ranks among the top in all the Air Force.

In 2011, these efforts were recognized when the 37th Airlift Squadron, on behalf of the 86th AW, received the Best C-130 Cargo Accuracy Award.

“This award highlights our squadron’s commitment to accurate participation in the fuel efficiency tracking system,” said Maj. Mike Pontiff, assistant director of operations at the 37th AS.

When asked how the fuel efficiency efforts benefit the 86th AW’s mission as well the Air Force in general, Pontiff said.

“We are able to move more cargo and passengers at a lower cost. It also contributes to reducing our overall environmental impact and saves the Air Force energy costs at a time when saving is so important,” he said.