Reducing aviation fuel use is an ongoing goal for military and civil operators, and Air Mobility Command is feeling increasing pressure to further reduce fuel use by implementing and following known best practices. Although the Air Force had achieved a 12 percent reduction in fuel consumption by March 2012, it must continue to pursue cost-effective options to reduce fuel use even further.
Since airlift was first used as a tool of national security during the Berlin Airlift, it has grown to deliver passengers, cargo, and fuel to operations worldwide in support of national security. However, Air Mobility Command is the single organization that performs for air mobility for the United States. Cm%Currently, the Air Force has structured Air Mobility Command for war, yet this command performs operations during times when the US is at peace. Air Mobility Command performs missions to support US military operations in hostile environments as well as humanitarian operations in non-hostile environments. The number of operations requiring mobility air forces has been on the rise since the Cold War ended 10 years ago. These steady-state operations seem to over task mobility air forces. This study centers on the question: Can Air Mobility Command's force structure, organized for two major-theater wars, fulfill that requirement and perform the steady-state operations in today's strategic environment? This study finds that Air Mobility Command's force structure cannot meet its requirements for two major-theater wars and that the current force structure is inefficient in meeting the requirements for steady-state operations. First, this thesis presents a primer to acclimate the reader to the complex environment and multifaceted requirements of mobility air forces. Next, this thesis examines Air Mobility Command's current force structure as determined by Department of Defense requirements for war. Then this thesis also describes the various types of missions that Air Mobility Command performs on a steady-state basis and evaluates the importance of these operations in fulfilling US National Security Strategy. Finally, this thesis recommends action that the Air Force and the Department of Defense should investigate in order to improve their air mobility capabilities in.
"The United States (US) is the world's top petroleum consumer, and without a doubt the United States Air Force (USAF) is the largest energy consumer in the Department of Defense (DoD). But the increasing price of oil has forced USAF leaders to pursue innovative and aggressive steps to incorporate alternative fuel sources into the military inventory. This increase in energy costs affects budgets in the form of unforecasted fuel expenditures and has resulted in an inward domestic search for alternative fuel sources. This paper will explore innovative fuel alternatives to assess their ability to meet the USAF ground fuel needs in austere locations. This will be accomplished by examining combinations of synthetic fuels, biodiesel, waste vegetable oil, used engine oil and blended fuel variants to meet this increasing requirement, without impacting current distribution and storage systems. Finally, using information gathered in this research, the paper will chronicle the effects of sample alternative fuels principles on a test vehicle, and conclude with recommendations based on test results."--Abstract.
The DoD relies heavily on petroleum-based fuel to sustain its forward-deployed locations -- particularly those that are not connected to local power grids. While weapon platforms require large amounts of fuel, the single largest battlefield fuel consumer is generators, which provide power for activities such as cooling, heating, and lighting. Transporting fuel to forward-deployed locations presents a logistics burden and risk, including exposing fuel truck convoys to attack. This report addresses DoD's: (1) efforts to reduce fuel demand at forward-deployed locations; and (2) approach to managing fuel demand at these locations. Solis visited DoD locations in Kuwait and Djibouti to learn about fuel reduction efforts and challenges facing these locations. Illus.
The USAF is the largest energy consumer in the DoD. In conjunction with the Pres¿s. mandate to reduce dependency on foreign oil and in an effort to stem fuel exp., the USAF estab. an alternative energy program focused on increased conservation and the dev¿t. of new, domestic sources of fuel. This report examines biologically produced fuel alternatives and their ability to meet USAF jet fuel requirements by the year 2025. It examines ethanol, terrestrial produced biodiesel, algae oil and biobutanol and each fuel¿s ability to meet JP-8 fuel standards while achieving compatibility with USAF aircraft and fuel distribution systems. It recommends the continued development of biofuel technology to reduce USAF dependency on foreign oil. Illus.
