Fuels testing laboratory dedicated at Plant 42

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  • By Air Force Plant 42
PALMDALE, Calif. --  A ribbon cutting ceremony was held April 13 to commemorate an historic event. The Petroleum Oil and Lubricants was officially dedicated April 13 at the Palmdale facility. Timothy Hughes, Aeronautical Systems Center Detachment 1 Acting Director of Air Force Plant 42, welcomed Lt. Col. Tam Gaffney, Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas West commander, and DLA Energy, Quality Assurance representative, Glenn Beshara.

Air Force Plant 42 partnered with the DLA-E in creating the new Air Force operated Plant 42 fuels testing laboratory, with the agency providing invaluable technical advice and support throughout the project. The project was successful due to a talented multi-functional team comprised of DLA Energy, Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency, the contractor, and ASC Det. 1 civilian employees, including civil engineers, fuel technicians, communication specialists and contracting. Special recognition for the project went to Ed McCown, lead engineer, Don Bouche, POL Lab facility manager, and Juan Rivera, project inspector.

Plant 42 representatives said the building process was a long and arduous undertaking; however, through close collaboration between the Air Force, DLA Energy, AFCESA and the contractor, the team was able to design a building that was functional and meet current standards, while remaining within budget.

AF Plant 42 has existed since 1953, but for decades, due to the absence of an on-plant testing facility, all Air Force Plant 42 government fuel samples were transported to Edwards Air Force Base for testing and analysis. This weekly, sometimes daily, process was costly, slow and extremely cumbersome. With this new POL Lab, which also includes a Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Plant 42 will be able to ensure all aircraft operations, whether military or contractor, receive clean, dry fuel to support their missions, and with a substantial savings to the Air Force.

Air Force Plant 42 is a government-owned, contractor operated industrial facility. Military operations and contractor operations, such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and NASA, share a common runway complex consisting of two 12,000-foot. The Aircraft Control Tower is the fourth busiest in all of Air Force Materiel Command with approximately 30,000 operations a year.