With no fuel, pilots can't save lives in Iraq

Photo By Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny | A refueler walks to put away the fuel nozzle after fueling a UH-60 Blackhawk March 20 at the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade forward armament and refueling point at Logistical Support Area Anaconda, Iraq.  

04.11.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

By Staff Sgt. Kevin Doheny
159th CAB PAO

We all do it. We drive right up the gas pumps in our vehicles, open the gas tank and begin to fill up.

As the fuel raises the needle on the fuel gauge and reaches the large "F" at the top, the handle clicks; we re-hook up the handle to the pump, tighten the gas cap, close the gas cover, pay and drive off.

We do it all the time. It is convenient to all of us to drive right up to the gas pump, fill up and head on our way.

What we fail to think about is all the logistical parts and pieces that go along with getting the gas to the pump or how many man hours go into ensuring we have our gas ready for us when we pull up to the pump.

While not quite like a service station back home in the U.S., the forward armament and refueling point located at Logistical Support Area Anaconda, Iraq, which services all the aircraft the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade has in its inventory, makes the process to refuel and re-arm the aircraft as simple as those pumps back at home.

Soldiers man these refueling points 24 hours a day so the pilots can touch down with their aircraft at any time, refuel and be back in the air to continue on with their missions in a timely manner.

"We understand the urgency of their mission, and we pride ourselves on being quick and responsive," said Attack FARP Officer in Charge, 1st Lt. Matthew Hoffman, 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, of the pilots in his battalion. "They recognize how well trained and professional we must be to keep them safe while they are being refueled in the FARP, and they know if they are in the air, we are out there supporting them."

It takes coordination from the pilots in the air and the refueling point on the ground to ensure both are on the same page to make the refueling process as quick and safe as possible.

According to Assault FARP OIC, 1st Lt. Laura Freeland, 7th Bn., 101st Avn. Regt., a number of tasks must be completed before a drop of fuel is even pumped into the aircraft.

"The pilots call in for clearance and pad assignment," said Freeland. "Then the Shift non-commissioned officer in charge assigns soldiers, they turn on the fuel trucks, ensure all proper safety measures are in place, and all passengers exit the aircraft to a safe distance away from the aircraft. All these tasks are done within a matter of 30 seconds."

The FARPs at LSA Anaconda have been busy since the brigade transferred authority in Iraq in November 2005. Over 1,000,000 gallons of "hot" fuel, fuel which is pumped while the aircraft are still running, has been pumped through the trucks and into the aircraft on the Assault FARP. The Attack FARP has pumped close to half a million gallons.

According to Freeland, safety is as essential as getting the aircraft in the air quickly.

FARP Soldiers take many precautions during the refuel process.

"Fire extinguishers and Tri-Max fire extinguishers are kept on all the points," said Freeland. "My guys also wear ear protection, eye protection, gloves, Army combat or flight deck helmets. The purpose of this is to protect them from anything during refuel operations. JP8 is a caustic liquid and will burn the skin and the eyes should a valve blow out or a nozzle give out due to use. These are very real dangers during any refuel operation, and there is zero tolerance for any violation during operations."

Both Freeland and Hoffman know that their operations are as important as any other in the brigade. Without fuel the aircraft can't fly. If the aircraft can't fly then the pilots can't even get off the runway.

"The guys on the ground, the infantry and armor Soldiers, rely on our OH-58D Kiowa Warriors and AH-64 Apaches to look out for them, to provide support and assurance," Hoffman said. "A FARP requires complex choreography between fuelers, ammunition handlers, and armament Soldiers, and can be a dangerous place for aircraft if poorly executed. My Soldiers and the Soldiers of the Armament platoon understand this and we pride ourselves on how well we execute"

Freeland feels her Soldiers the FARP is an important piece of a bigger animal. She said they don't normally know of the aircraft's mission when they stop to refuel, but she knows by keeping the aircraft in the air, Soldiers are off the roads which eventually save lives.

"We also see the medical evacuation aircraft coming through, and at times, my guys have had to help the medics unload the wounded," said Freeland. "There are many missions in Iraq, our goal here at the FARP is to execute ours better than anyone else and do our part to support the pilots and the Soldiers who are executing other missions throughout Iraq."

• Date Taken: 04.11.2006
• Date Posted: 04.11.2006 08:21
• Story ID: 5992