Initiative searches for IDEAs to increase Dover fuel efficiency

Published Sept. 8, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Matthew Hubby
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The Air Mobility Command Aviation Fuel Efficiency Innovative Development through Employee Awareness Initiative at Dover Air Force Base, Del., is looking to capitalize on the submissions of the Airmen at Dover Air Force Base to identify aviation fuel efficiency (FE) related infinitives.

Team Dover is using this initiative to generate as many ideas as possible from Airmen on the base to bring about the desired savings.

All FE IDEAs received by Headquarters AMC will be fast tracked for approval or disapproval. Approved IDEAs can reward up to $10,000 for an idea producing tangible savings.

"Normally the IDEAs are worked on first at the base then passed on up to HQ AMC for approval," said Donna Lamos, 436th Force Support Squadron IDEA program manager and management analyst. "With the fast tracking it goes straight to HQ AMC for much faster turnaround. Right now, we have had six IDEAs fast tracked in AMC, one was approved, three were disapproved and two are pending approval."

The program is on a time limit, with an end date of Sept. 30 for idea submissions.

"This is a really great program," said Mrs. Lamos. "We would love to see more ideas from people who are looking to save fuel."

Any Team Dover member can submit an IDEA to the 436 FSS Manpower Office for forwarding to AMC. As the program accepts all IDEAs evenly, some proponents of this initiative laud it for its openness of new ideas.

"I'd love to see more participation in this program," said Tech. Sgt. Lorraine Kmiec, 436th FSS manpower analyst. "I like seeing the push toward bio-fuel and other cleaner fuel sources for our jet fuel. I really like to hear how they are trying to make fuel cleaner. But we definitely need more people out there to submit their IDEAs on how to make things better."