(ABF) Aviation Boatswain's Mate - Fuels

	Aviation Boatswain's Mate	ABF	(Fuels)	ABF
	Aviation Boatswain's Mates, Fuels (ABF) operate, maintain, and perform organizational maintenance on aviation fueling and lubricating oil systems in CVs, LPHs, and LPDs, including aviation fuel and lubricating oil service stations and pumprooms, piping, valves, pumps, tanks, and portable equipment related to the fuel system; operate, maintain, and repair valves and piping of purging and protective systems within the Air Department's spaces aboard ship; supervise the operation and servicing of fuel farms and equipment associated with the fueling and defueling of aircraft ashore and afloat; operate and service motorized fueling equipment; maintain fuel quality surveillance and control in aviation fuel systems ashore and afloat; train, direct, and supervise firefighting crews, fire rescue teams, and damage control parties in assigned fuel and lubricating oil spaces; observe and enforce fuel handling safety precautions.

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (ABF's) also known as "Grapes" play a major part in launching and recovering naval aircraft quickly and safely from land or ships. This includes preparing and fueling planes prior to take- off and after landing.
They may specialize in launching and recovering aircraft on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, ABE; aircraft fueling and fuel systems, ABF; or aircraft handling, fire fighting and salvage and rescue operations, ABH. Later in their careers ABs can earn the advanced AB rating that requires supervision of all these individual specialties.

The duties performed by ABFs include:

• operating, maintaining and performing organizational maintenance on aviation fueling and lubricating oil systems on CVs, CVNs, LPHS and LPDS;
• observing and enforcing handling safety precautions and maintaining fuel quality surveillance and control in aviation fuel systems;
• supervising the operation and servicing of fuel farms and equipment associated with the fueling and defueling of aircraft ashore and afloat;
• training, directing and supervising fire fighting crews, fire rescue teams, and damage control parties in assigned fuel and lubricating oil spaces.

Working Environment

Most of the work in this rating is performed outdoors on the deck of aircraft carriers, in all climatic conditions, in fast-paced and often potentially hazardous environments. ABs work closely with others in aviation ratings.

ABF - Aviation Fuels Below Decks Operations Technician

Aviation Fuels Below Deck Operations Technicians ensure, supervise and manage the safe receipt, transfer and issue of JP5 to various locations throughout the ship. Their duties include taking samples, sounding tanks, aligning service, transfer and stripping systems to perform various functions. They are responsible for performing PMS on equipment, and maintaining the material condition of assigned spaces.

ABF - Aviation Fuels Flight Deck Operations Technician

Basic Aviation Fuels Flight Deck Operations Technicians ensure, supervise and manage the safe receipt, transfer and issue of JP5 to various locations throughout the ship. Their duties include taking samples, sounding tanks, aligning service, transfer and stripping systems to perform various functions. They are responsible for performing PMS on equipment, and maintaining the material condition of assigned spaces.

ABF - Aviation Fuels Shore Base Operations Technician

Aviation Fuels Ashore Operations Technicians ensure, supervise and manage the safe receipt, transfer and issue of JP5 to assigned and transient aircraft, as well as support equipment. Their duties include taking samples, coordinating refueling points, performing refuel and defuel operations, providing fuel for Jet Test facility, conducting quality assurance checks on fuel, and aligning service, transfer and stripping systems to perform various functions. They are responsible for performing PMS on equipment and maintaining material condition of assigned spaces.

ABF is a sea-intensive community. Manning conditions at sea may require the need to request sea tour extension or shore tour curtailments to ensure all sea duty billets are filled.

** Note: ABE, ABF, and ABH combine at paygrade E-9 to the rating of Master Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (ABCM).

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 30, 2010) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) Airman Victor Hopkins, from Glen Burnie, Md., collects a sample of JP-5 jet fuel for analysis aboard the aircraft carier USS George Washington (CVN 73) during a replenishment at sea. George Washington, the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, is underway helping to ensure security and stability in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Charles Oki/Released)
 

EAST CHINA SEA (Dec. 5, 2010) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) Airman Richard Bove moves a JP-5 hose behind the foul line after hot-refueling an MH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter assigned to the Vanguard of Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14 aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9). Denver is part of the permanently forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is conducting a scheduled patrol in the western Pacific ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan Blair/Released)

 
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