Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Joint force hot pitting saves time, moneyPublished Dec. 10, 2014
                    
                    By Airman 1st Class Jeremy L. Mosier
                    
                    
                    366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
            **MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (AFNS) --**Airmen from the 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron petroleum, oil and lubricant flight here, recently work alongside the U.S. Navy Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) to help develop and implement a "hot pit" refueling process for Navy EA-18G Growlers, which frequent the base.Even though hot pit refueling is used by both services and is a common practice of refueling a jet while the engines are still running, qualifying Airmen from the 366th LRS to do so on a Navy aircraft presented a challenge. "It's always a learning experience when working with other agencies, or sister services, like the VAQ-129," said Tech. Sgt. Richard Schaefer, the 366th LRS fuel distribution supervisor. "Not only does each branch have a unique way of performing their operations, but they also have different requirements."Due to the fact that there was already an existing training partnership between Mountain Home Air Force Base and VAQ-129, a request was made to have the ability to hot pit refuel here.The request was granted by the major command and both branches later met to outline and resolve any differences in refueling procedures.Although the hot pit qualification process was extensive, it presented many advantages.Before the implementation of the hot pit process, the VAQ-129 would either have to fly back to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, to refuel, or go through the regular refueling process at Mountain Home AFB.The regular process consisted of turning the aircraft off and conducting a routine maintenance checks. This process also caused VAQ-129 to send additional Sailors on TDY in support of the aircraft.According to Petty Officer 3rd Class Loza Sanchez, a VAQ-129 aviation structural mechanic, conducting  a full-length refuel here wasted valuable time and resources."It saves on man power ... and it also cuts the refueling process from 45 minutes to roughly 15 minutes," Schaefer said. "Everyone gets it done as quickly as possible so we can get the bird back in the air to perform its mission."The new joint hot pit refueling is a testament to the close working relationship between the airmen at Mountain Home AFB and the Sailors of Whidbey Island."It was great working with the VAQ-129," Schaefer said. "Let's face it ... everybody enjoys saving money."refuel 



Navy 



Mountain Home AFB 



Idaho 



ACC 



joint 



training 



hot pit Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil