142nd AS leads the way in fuel efficiency Published Dec. 15, 2015 By 1st Lt. Valerie Harwood 166th Airlift Wing, Public Affairs New Castle, Del. Air National Guard -- The 142nd Airlift Squadron won the Air Mobility Command C-130 Fuel Efficiency Award for 2015. On December 3, 2015, the 142nd AS was recognized for making a difference in conserving our nation's limited resources and maintaining the U.S. Air Force's strategic advantage. The AMC selects their fuel efficiency winners through selections based on the routine statistical data pulled from flight information submitted by all AMC organizations. According to Lt. Col. Darren Loftin, from the AMC's Fuel Efficiency Division, data from approximately 30 C-130 squadrons in the Total Force were compared. The 142nd AS achieved the highest combined score for Fuel Tracker sortie reporting, (percent reporting the fuel data in AMC's Fuel Tracker), and ramp fuel accuracy (percent of sorties that departed with the fuel quantity planned). In other words, unit aircraft departed with the correct fuel load and didn't burn extra fuel carrying more weight than required. In addition, the last item reviewed was the fuel burn efficiency rating (an overall rating compared to all C-130 units). 166th Airlift Wing Operations Group Commander Col. Robert Culcasi said, "We've had to take a comprehensive look at the way we operate. We've examined and in some cases re-designed our processes." In order for the 142nd AS to become so energy efficient, even small changes had to be made. For example, the aircrew flight equipment section removed some non-mission essential excess equipment from the aircraft. They now tailor the equipment requirements based on the mission versus having a standard complement of equipment. Since extra fuel is extra weight, the 142nd also tailored their fuel loads to ensure they are not carrying extra weight without an operational requirement. "Our crews have always done an exceptional job operating the aircraft at altitudes and airspeeds that are the most fuel efficient while still keeping a sharp focus on the mission," said Culcasi. 166th AW Commander Col. Don Bevis, and 166th AW Command Chief Master Sgt. Shaune Peters will travel to Scott Air Force Base, Ill. to receive the award while attending the Phoenix Rally Conference in December. Award presentations were made by Miranda Ballentine, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy, Gen. Carlton Everhart, commander, AMC and Maj. Gen. Jerry Martinez, director of operations, AMC. "I am so proud of all of our Delaware Air National Guardsmen who worked so hard in contributing to conserving our nations limited resources," said Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general, Delaware National Guard. "Without their efforts, we would not have received this recognition." The 166th AW, provides tactical airlift and airdrop of troops and cargo using C-130H2 aircraft, plus aeromedical evacuation, civil engineer and network warfare functions.