Weight Reduction is AFSO21 priority

  • Published
  • By Capt. Darren Long
  • 60th Maintenance Group
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  What if I told you that you could clear out some of the items in your vehicle and it could save you hundreds of thousands of dollars? 

For most of us the quick answer would be definitely. However, what items would it be?
This is the concept behind the Aircraft Weight Reduction Initiative under the chief of staff of the Air Force's Aviation Fuel Optimization Culture. Just as we don't drive around with three extra spare tires or 12 quarts of oil in the trunk of our car, our aircraft shouldn't fly with unnecessary weight either. 

Leading from the front, General T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, has directed leaders at every level to take a personal stake in the way units foster a fuel optimization culture.  This is one of the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century Conduct Air, Space and Cyber Operations high-value initiatives underway to change the way we manage this non-renewable resource. 

Travis recently participated in an aircraft weight reduction event on our own C-17s and KC-10s. A team consisting of members from the Secretary of the Air Force Inspector General, Air Mobility Command operations, 60th Operations Group, 60th Maintenance Group, 60th Mission Support Group and the 60th Air Mobility Wing. The AFSO21 office set forth on the following objectives: to identify aircraft equipment, remove, catalogue and weigh all items, gather data, prioritize by mission requirements, and report recommendations to an AMC-sponsored joint review. 

These items were categorized in four types: Mission Critical, Mission Critical-Less Quantity, Mission Critical-Modifications/light material and Non-Mission Critical. Following the joint review, our aircraft may see the scales dip slightly. 

What does this mean in real numbers? We know that 100 pounds of weight reduced results in $680,000 per year or 1.6 million pounds of fuel saved. As weight is reduced, the dollars go up. For example, 2,000 pounds equals $13.6 million per year or 64 million pounds of fuel saved. This payback is huge for just removing unneeded items.
In the latest CSAF's vector, limiting idle time on the ramp, minimizing pattern time, ensuring every sortie is value-added, optimizing fuel loads and removing excess non-mission critical weight are also examples of ways to save fuel. 

Travis is at the forefront of these initiatives, taking steps every day to do our part because 'airplanes don't fly for free.'