USAF Seeks To Slash C-17 Fuel Use In New Efficiency Program

The Air Force's new pilot program targets its largest fuel consumer, the C-17 Globemaster III, and takes cues from commercial airlines strategies.

Kimberly Johnson

Thursday, February 03, 2022 at 05:32 PM ET

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Staff Sergeant John Eller conducts preflight checks on a C-17 Globemaster III. [Credit: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force is implementing the Mission Execution Excellence Program (MEEP) to reduce its aviation fuel consumption and costs, adopting efficiency strategies from commercial airlines.
The MEEP pilot program targets the C-17 Globemaster III fleet at two bases, aiming for a 3% increase in fuel efficiency per gallon and potential savings of up to $80 million.
Strategies include precision fuel planning, reducing engine use during taxi and ground operations, employing continuous descent, and optimizing cruise altitudes.
This initiative is part of the Department of Defense's broader effort to integrate climate change considerations into operations and address the Air Force's substantial energy footprint.

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In a bid to cut its aviation gas bill, the U.S. Air Force is employing new fuel efficiency strategies that take cues from commercial airlines, the service announced.

The new pilot program—dubbed the Mission Execution Excellence Program (MEEP)—targets the largest fuel guzzler in the fleet: the C-17 Globemaster III. The test program will roll out at Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina and Travis Air Base in California and run through the end of the year.