Lajes Field Airmen offload 220K gallons of fuel, keep mission going

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chenzira Mallory
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores --  Members of the 65th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Civil Engineer Squadron and civilian contractors, worked together to offload 220K gallons of unleaded fuel that is vital to ensuring the effectiveness of Lajes Field's aircraft refueling mission at Praia Bay, Jan. 29.

When the Madeiro Valleta fuel tanker pulled in to Praia Bay, base logistics, engineering and supporting units assisted to ensure that this shipment went as planned. Each fuel shipment to the world's only mid-Atlantic airfield is crucial because Lajes Field only receives three scheduled shipments of fuel each year - one for each grade - unleaded, diesel and jet fuel.

The shipment of unleaded fuel enables Team Lajes to continue supporting aircraft transiting the Atlantic ocean by ensuring that the LRS fleet of vehicles is ready to refuel fighters and tankers with jet fuel, said Master Sgt. Tracy Ford, 65th LRS fuels operations section chief.

"We help ensure fuel trucks are fueled to get to the flightline to support transiting aircraft. Today's shipment of unleaded fuel will support the military vehicles through the military service station," said Ford.

For Lajes Field service members, there's an added benefit to this shipment, said Ford.

"It also supports privately owned vehicles through the Army Air Force Exchange Service station here on the island," said Ford, who's responsible for the fuel received and stored here at Lajes.

After the ship arrives to the harbor, and with safety and protecting the environment in mind, a finely-orchestrated offloading process begins.

"Once the tanker has been docked, the civil engineers place a spill boom around the ship," said Ford, who is also the responsible officer for this shipment. "The fire fighters also get ready while I climb aboard the ship to ensure the proper amount of fuel is received and sign the paperwork."

Contracting personnel from Oceanica and AFH Fuel Services then connect the hoses to the ship to begin offloading fuel. With all of these moveable parts connecting to a ship, necessary precautions have to be made.

Avoiding even the smallest oil spill or leak is a top priority, said Vitor Berbereira, 65th CES environmental engineer.

"We circle the tanker with a yellow spill boom that floats along top of the water to collect any oil that may spill into the ocean," said Berbereira. "This is necessary to keep our environment safe since this beach is used by Portuguese and U.S. personnel with their families."

The civil engineer, water and fuels maintainers also played a major role in the offload.

"We do the maintenance on the pipelines to make sure the pressures are holding and we have no leaks," said Staff Sgt. Angel Diaz-Berrios, 65th CES, NCOIC of water and fuels systems maintenance. "We want to ensure everything is operating the way it supposed to."

In fact, an early January CES repair to fuel piping proved essential to enabling this fuel shipment.

During a routine inspection of fuel piping, Lajes civil engineers discovered that a fuel pipe had corroded after years of use, and could become unsafe if pressurized during fuel offloading, said Lt. Col. Teri French, 65th CES commander.

After recognizing the potential problem, Lajes civil engineers replaced the pipe, ensuring that the fuel shipment would not be delayed.

Basewide teamwork and preparation are key before and during the offloading of fuel tankers at Lajes, said Ford.

"With the CES personnel working with us out here, we can respond quickly in the event of an emergency," said Ford.