“I’m at the Air Force Base in Jacksonville, AR. For this week’s Chad, Do My Job, I’m not going to be flying a plane, but I am going to fuel one so let’s give it a try.”
At the base I met up with Sergeant Hayes, who’s filled up his fair share of C-130’s.
“What are we doing for today?”
“First, we’re going to go the control center. We’re gonna get the initial request of the fuel and receive a call. Then we’re going to go out to the flight line and put the fuel in the planes.”
“Alright, let’s do it.”
Our first order of business was waiting for a call at the fuel managing building. It didn’t take long for us to get a request.
Before I got a chance to relax, we drove up to the tarmac to fill up a navy jet.
We followed a massive fuel truck up to the spot to setup.
Next, Sergeant Hayes gave me a crash course on fueling.
My next order was to put a yellow block under the tanker – simple enough.
“So why are we putting this thing down there?”
“So the truck doesn’t roll into the plane.”
“That’s always a good thing.”
“Ok. Release the clutch, throw the hose over your shoulder and give her a pull.”
“Here goes nothing.”
That fuel hose looks lighter then it actually is. (NATS) It didn’t help that Sargent Hayes tried to pull a fast one on me.
I didn’t have the proper clearance to hook the pump to the jet. So I was in charge of pulling the switch to fill her up.
In less than 20 minutes we pumped 5,000 gallons of fuel and my mission was complete.
At the base I met up with Sergeant Hayes, who’s filled up his fair share of C-130’s.
“What are we doing for today?”
“First, we’re going to go the control center. We’re gonna get the initial request of the fuel and receive a call. Then we’re going to go out to the flight line and put the fuel in the planes.”
“Alright, let’s do it.”
Our first order of business was waiting for a call at the fuel managing building. It didn’t take long for us to get a request.
Before I got a chance to relax, we drove up to the tarmac to fill up a navy jet.
We followed a massive fuel truck up to the spot to setup.
Next, Sergeant Hayes gave me a crash course on fueling.
My next order was to put a yellow block under the tanker – simple enough.
“So why are we putting this thing down there?”
“So the truck doesn’t roll into the plane.”
“That’s always a good thing.”
“Ok. Release the clutch, throw the hose over your shoulder and give her a pull.”
“Here goes nothing.”
That fuel hose looks lighter then it actually is. (NATS) It didn’t help that Sargent Hayes tried to pull a fast one on me.
I didn’t have the proper clearance to hook the pump to the jet. So I was in charge of pulling the switch to fill her up.
In less than 20 minutes we pumped 5,000 gallons of fuel and my mission was complete.
