Cost Savings Possible with Air Force Conversion to JP-8 as Its Primary Fuel.

Abstract : JP-4 has been the primary fuel for the USAF since 1951. However, in 1979 the USAF converted to JP-8 as its primary jet fuel for its operations in Great Britain. Recently, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) began the switch from JP-4 (F40) to JP-8 (F34) as its primary jet fuel. However, JP-4 continues to be the primary USAF jet fuel within the continental United States. The cost and manpower savings possible by converting from JP-4 to JP-8, as the primary jet fuel for the Air Force, are identified and estimated. The much lower volatility of JP-8, as compared to JP-4, accounts for the anticipated savings. For example, aircraft fuel systems must be purged prior to maintenance, and purging aircraft fuel systems that have contained JP-4 can take hours to days. With JP-8 purging may not even be necessary under most ambient temperatures. Another major savings is the reduced evaporation of JP-8, as compared to the more volatile JP-4. Finally, reduced fatalities and casualty losses resulting from ground and flight accidents are estimated.