Hot refuels keep aircraft flying

By Geoffrey Roper, Fort Carson MountaineerApril 16, 2010

Hot refuels keep aircraft flying
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Hot refuels keep aircraft flying
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Hot refuels keep aircraft flying
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Hot refuels keep aircraft flying
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Hot refuels keep aircraft flying
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FORT CARSON, Colo.---A small group of Soldiers sits in a building on Butts Army Airfield. In an instant, they are all up and running as an Apache helicopter lands just outside with almost no warning. Each Soldier has a job to do, all part of something called a hot refuel.

One Soldier clips a grounding wire to the aircraft; two others grab the fuel line and hook it up to the Apache.

Another grabs a large fire extinguisher, just in case something goes wrong.

A hot refuel is when an aircraft lands and pulls up to a fueling area, called a panograph, while leaving its engines running, gets fuel, then immediately takes back off.

The Soldiers running the operation are with the 59th Quartermaster Company, 43rd Sustainment Brigade.

The purpose of a hot refuel is to minimize the time it takes to refuel an aircraft, which has its obvious benefits in combat.

"It's more efficient; quicker ... if (pilots) are in a war zone, they don't want to shut the helicopter down to refuel. They can just touch down, get fuel and take off again, and get right back into the fight," said Sgt. Stephen Fairman, rapid refuel facility non commissioned officer in charge for 59th QM, 43rd SB.

Their company commander also sees this as an excellent training mission for his Soldiers.

"Colorado is the perfect place to train for flying conditions in Afghanistan," said Capt. Michael Volpe, commander, 59th QM, 43rd SB, in reference to the altitude and climate. "And it gives the 59th Soldiers a chance to work with different types of aircraft not normally here, such as the Marine Corps Osprey, the Kiowa scout helicopter, Black Hawks and Chinooks."

There is also an added benefit for the aviation units that train at Fort Carson.

"The best part is, when we support the aviation units, they don't have to bring all their support people, so they have more time at home before they deploy," said Volpe.

However, that also means the Soldiers from the 59th QM are getting better training themselves, and can be ready if they go into battle. Each man and woman who works to keep each aircraft flying plays a pivotal role in the larger scheme. By working quickly, and as a team, these Soldiers cut valuable time from a refueling, which Fairman said could end up saving lives.

"This mission is very important to the Army and 59th Quartermaster plays a vital role for aviation combat brigades to deploy and be combat ready for Afghanistan," said Warrant Officer Travis Thibodeaux, rapid refuel facility officer in charge for 59th QM, 43rd SB.

Currently the 59th QM is supporting the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division from Fort Hood, Texas, through April 17 then they will be supporting the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum, N.Y.