The Air Force is leveraging the experiences of certifying its first alternative aviation fuel blend as it embarks on approving additional mixtures for the fleet. “We are taking advantage of lessons learned from the Fischer-Tropsch certification program,” Jeff Braun, who heads USAF’s alternative fuels certification office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, told the Daily Report. That program, set for completion next year, saw the Air Force go essentially from platform type to platform type to certify each to run on a 50-50 blend of traditional JP-8 aviation fuel and synthetic paraffinic kerosene. Based on that experience, “fleet-wide, system-by-system certification” will not be necessary as service officials clear the use of new blends containing some amount of biomass-derived fuel known as hydro-treated renewable jet fuel. Instead only the “most challenging” platforms from the FT certification will have to go through a distinct certification process, he said.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…