Photo By Ryan Carter | ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 4, 2017) -- Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) 2nd Class Kenneth...... read more read more
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“Fuel is the building block for a ship earning their flight deck certification,” said Chief Warrant Officer Robert Ruggiero, Ford’s fuel bos’n. “There’s nothing that will fly on this ship that won’t be fueled by JP5.”
The process of supplying fuel to the ship begins with an onload of JP5 that is stored in tanks and pumped through filters to minimize the collection of water. A sample of JP5 is taken from a tank, and the JP5 sample is delivered to the fuel quality assurance laboratory to ensure the fuel is suitable for use. Once the JP5 sample is deemed suitable by quality assurance, that specific sampling tank of fuel is cleared for 24 hours.
“24/7 while [Ford] is operating, we are always purifying or moving fuel down in the pump rooms,” said Ruggiero. “Pump room operators can do six or seven tasks at once. It takes someone who is focused and has attention to detail to do the job.”
An aircraft carrier’s mission to provide air support is dependent on the fuel that the carrier is able to provide.
“Without the below decks fuel system, we would not be able to supply aircraft with quality fuel,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) Christopher Flynt, Ford’s below decks leading chief petty officer. “Refueling an aircraft with sub-par fuel could result in a loss of life, so we play a vital role in the mission of the ship.”
Ruggiero said when below decks is running great it translates to an easy day. He has solid junior Sailors that have experience and know the system well.
“Our team in V-4 division is like a big family,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) 3rd Class Franklen Garrett. “We work long days together and train each other. We do this to ensure clean fuel gets to the flight deck.”
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 11.13.2017 10:30 |
| Story ID: | 255117 |
| Location: | AT SEA |
| Web Views: | 140 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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