Passing good gas

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27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

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Airman 1st Class Eboni Reece

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Megan O'Neil, 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels laboratory technician, uses an Aviation Turbine Fuel Contamination Standards book to ensure fuel samples are without particulates in the fuels laboratory at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Sept.4, 2012. Technicians in the fuels laboratory conducts hundreds of tests monthly to ensure quality fuel is used with Cannon's transient aircraft.

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – Fuel is rarely given thought until the supply is getting low or has completely run out. Yet, it’s common to see a CV-22 Osprey or one of the various C-130 gunships taking off or flying overhead at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.; neither of which would be possible without a supply of fuel.

Fuel laboratory technicians with the 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron provide quality fuel to aid in the wing’s commitment to support global military operations.

“Our biggest concern is to ensure the fuel is clean and dry,” said Tech. Sgt. Robert Sheehan, 27 SOLRS fuels laboratory noncommissioned officer-in-charge. “Clean fuel is without contaminants and dry refers to not having any excess water.”

Cannon receives JP8 jet fuel and aviation fuel for transient aircraft, as well as, ground fuel which is used in all government vehicles.

All fuel received by Cannon must go through the 27 SOLRS fuels laboratory. The fuels laboratory is critical because the technicians are responsible for sampling and testing all fuels entering the base for contaminants and perform periodic inspections to ensure quality control of stored fuels as well.

Additionally, 27 SOLRS fuel laboratory technicians have the responsibility of responding to aircraft crashes, collecting fuel samples, transporting the samples to the area laboratory for analysis and submitting the results to the accident review boards.

Senior Airman Megan O’Neil, 27 SOLRS fuels laboratory technician, plays an essential role in guaranteeing all fuel delivered meets U.S. Department of Defense standards by collecting samples and performing analysis of the fuel during hundreds of tests each month.

“I just love the hands-on part of my job,” said O’Neil. “So everything, to me, is fun to do.”

With such an important job, 27 SOLRS fuel laboratory technicians must maintain a strict schedule of testing by lab filtration in order to assess for particulate contamination in the aviation fuel. Adhering to these schedules guarantees results will be precise.

“Lab technicians do the same analysis over and over again,” said Sheehan. “Your results are the same with these tests, which is definitely a good thing.”

Overcoming the complacency that may arise from the repetitiveness of the testing procedures is one of the hardest aspects of the fuel laboratory technicians’ job.

“It’s important to carefully observe what we do in the shop,” said Sheehan. “This job carries a lot of responsibility. Even when it gets repetitive, it’s all about attention to detail.”