Base generates $1M savings for DOD Published April 18, 2013 By Jenny Gordon Robins Air Force Base Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Robins Air Force Base is one of two Defense Department locations able to provide a powerful capability in support of the National Airborne Operations Center. As a result of a significant Team Robins effort, four trilectron generators assigned to support the JSTARS fleet underwent modifications here in order to support both JSTARS and NAOC aircraft. Working with the Air Force Sustainment Center engineering department and the NAOC program office, the 116th Maintenance Squadron developed the first such modification of its kind, further enhancing the generator's value and versatility. The modification added additional cable receptacles specific to the E-4B aircraft, and allowed a switchable configuration from JSTARS to the NAOC aircraft in minutes. The generators - a V-6 diesel engine that generally takes about 15 minutes to successfully warm up and connect to an aircraft - are self-contained units which sit on the ground supplying immediate electrical current for aircraft to be in a mission-ready posture. Cost savings are significant in that they assist with keeping an aircraft running while its engines are powered down and not in use - a unique feature for this location. By doing this, a substantial amount of jet fuel is saved, to the tune of about $1.2 million, according to Master Sgt. Bob Cliche, 116th ACW Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight supervisor. An additional $179,000 savings per visit is also realized for the E-4B. That's huge considering the fuel burn rate per hour on station for the E-4B is 500 gallons per hour with engines running. JoAnn Campbell, 78th Logistics Readiness Squadron program manager, took advantage of an end of year funding opportunity to complete the initiative to purchase four cables that allow full support of the E-4B when here. This project was years in the making, and is now fully operational.