YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS) Fuels Management Flight recently completed a wet-wing defuel training phase, a first at Yokota, which enables the C-130J Super Hercules crews to rapidly deliver fuel to bases all over the pacific. The process is a coordinated effort with multiple MAJCOM A3/A4’s & AFPET to ensure compliance with standards and standardize a checklist for the career field.
Staff Sgt. Emily Juarez, 374th LRS fuels distribution supervisor, says a wet-wing defuel has nothing to do with water on the wings but everything to do with fast fuel.
“It’s for contingency operations. So a C-130 can land in an austere environment, offload fuel using the aircraft pumps and take off with minimal time on the ground.”
Juarez stated that a wet-wing defuel is an alternate route to fueling especially in contingency operations.
“Providing this training here at home station allows the aircrews to be fully qualified and able to support the INDO-PACOM Area of Responsibility (AOR) with more capabilities. Also, it gives the POL community that extra training and experience as well.”
Airman 1st Class Benito Tlaxcala, 374th LRS fuels distribution operator, explained the process as using the pumps from the aircraft to “offload with aircraft pumps while aircraft engines are running.”
“This is considered a Special Fueling Operation due to the nature of the aircraft engines running. Certain operations fall under this and adding this operation to our scope here at Yokota just makes us better.”