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 has launched the Mission Execution Excellence Program (MEEP), a pilot initiative inspired by commercial airline practices, to significantly cut aviation fuel costs and improve efficiency.
Targeting the C-17 Globemaster III, MEEP aims to increase mission effectiveness per gallon by 3% and save up to $80 million through strategies like precision fuel planning, reduced engine use during ground operations, and optimized flight techniques.
This program underscores the Department of Defense's broader integration of climate change considerations into operations and addresses the Air Force's substantial role as a top federal energy consumer.

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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.