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Rising gas prices affecting flying unit, reservists

  • Published
  • By Brandice Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  The all-too-common pinch at the fuel pump has affected both fliers and motorists, at one Tinker unit. The 507th Air Refueling Wing, Oklahoma's largest Air Force Reserve flying unit, has 12 KC-135 Stratotankers, which fly six to eight sorties a day. The unit also has approximately 1,200 members, of which 800 are traditional reservists, and many of whom commute to Tinker from out-of-state. Rising gasoline and jet-fuel prices affect the unit on a daily basis and wing officials are investigating ways to save money. 

"It's a huge impact," said Col. Jeffery Glass, 507th ARW commander. "It's a huge expense and in response we're doing a lot of things that we really didn't do in the past."
Each flight within the air refueling wing lasts three to four hours and travels as far as 900 to 1,000 miles each way. 

In the past year, Colonel Glass said the price of jet fuel has risen about 40 percent, or $3 million, which is paid from the Operation and Maintenance account. The O&M budget also pays for office supplies and like expenses throughout the year. 

"The Air Force Reserve Command funds the flying hours, but the flying hours keep getting more and more expensive," the colonel said. "That's $3 million worth of stuff that can't be done throughout AFRC because of the increase of gas prices." 

Since the price of jet fuel has increased, Air Force officials are exploring ways to save money and travel further before refilling. One solution is to reduce weight in the aircraft. 

Colonel Glass said only mission-oriented items are on an aircraft during a flight. Parachutes, life vests, toolboxes, tables and chairs, have all since been removed from each flight. 

"It's just like they tell you with a car, if you carry around a lot of stuff in your trunk, you're ruining your fuel mileage," the colonel said. "Now we're not carrying around an extra 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of [excess baggage] with us." 

When flying locally, the wing has also started flying with its flaps up to create less drag.
"If you raise the flaps, it saves about 200 to 300 pounds [of fuel] per hour, per engine," Colonel Glass said, "which is about 1,000 pounds per hour; or about 180 gallons per hour. It's a savings of about $500 per hour." 

Colonel Glass said Air Force officials are also exploring synthetic fuel mixed with Jet Propellant 8 fuel. JP-8 fuel has been used in the U.S. government since 1990, and the synthetic fuel is Iso-Paraffinic Kerosene. 

Using the Fischer-Tropsch method, a catalyzed chemical reaction, to combine the two substances, created a synthetic-petroleum substitute. German researchers Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch created the Fischer-Tropsch method in the 1920s. 

Air Force officials have also mentioned changing training requirements to include more simulator training. But, as of yet, Tinker does not have a simulator, Colonel Glass said.
507th ARW motorists commuting to and from Tinker may feel more a pinch at the pump than government officials. Not only are they expected to report to the central Oklahoma installation for duty, but they are required to pay for transportation on their own dime during unit training assemblies. Staff sergeants and below, are particularly feeling the pinch, the colonel said. 

"I have Airmen that actually lose anywhere from $8 to $15 a Unit Training Assembly, meaning it costs them $8 to $15 more than they get paid to get here," said Colonel Glass. "It's a huge retention thing for us because guys are just quitting, because they can't afford it." 

507th ARW officials, including Mission Support Flight Commander Maj. Donald Satterlee, are offering incentives to carpoolers. 

Major Satterlee said he'll give his parking space to a carpool group or let them leave 15 to 20 minutes early. The incentives are not designed for local commuters, but rather those who travel great distances. 

The major said some reservists commute from Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Virginia, Missouri and Florida.