In this global liquidity crisis the US Air force has developed certain measures to meet its cost reduction process.
The primary proposition being the use of synthetic fuel upto 50% in place of commercial fuel. A spike of $10 per barrel costs the US Air force $600 million in excess for fuel. Thus, synthetic alternatives are being considered to be used vastly by 2016. The Pentagon has even proposed the increasing use of virtual training programs through flight simulators for new pilots. According to officials of Pentagon, flight simulators are more effective training options as thy are customizable unlike the real world training programs.
The Air Force consumes about 2.6 billion gallons of fuel every year for aviation purposes. Thus they aim at saving 260 million gallons every year which accounts for 10% of the total volume consumed.
Boeing Co has even introduced X-48Bs in the Pentagon hangars which are compatible with synthetic fuels and are lighter aircrafts. NASA has come forward developing BWB(Blended Wing Body) which lessens the drag in aircrafts thereby reducing fuel consumption. The route of travel for flights and loading of cargoes are even altered for more fuel-efficient outputs.
Such conservation measures are devised as in 2005 and 2006 the budget was exceeded for aviation fuel by USD1.4 billion and 1.6 billion respectively. Also tensions developing between US and oil producing countries like Iran and Venezuela amidst the economic recession has made the US Air force to initiate such processes.
