Examination of the United States Air Force Aircraft Conversion from JP-8 Fuel to Jet-A Fuel with Additives, and Recommendations for the Royal Canadian Air Force

As of November 2014, the United States Air Force (USAF) has switched all of its military bases from JP-8 fuel to commercial Jet-A with additives (also known as NATO F-24 fuel): Fuel System Icing Inhibitor (FSII), Corrosion... [ view full abstract ]

As of November 2014, the United States Air Force (USAF) has switched all of its military bases from JP-8 fuel to commercial Jet-A with additives (also known as NATO F-24 fuel): Fuel System Icing Inhibitor (FSII), Corrosion Inhibitor/Lubricity Improver (CI/LI) and Static Dissipater Additive (SDA) in the same concentrations as specified for JP-8 fuel. The main reasons for this decision are based on logistics and finances, yet technical evidence to support a safe fuel conversion has not been made clearly evident. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) currently uses JP-8 as the primary fuel for its entire fleet of aircraft. Some RCAF aircraft are certified to use Jet-A1 (Jet-A with a 7oC lower freezing point) and F-24. However, not all RCAF aircraft are certified for JP-8+100 or F-24+100 (the +100 allowing for greater fuel thermal stability). This paper summarizes the reasons for the USAF fuel conversion, examines experimental studies conducted on JP-8 and JP-8+100 fuels in the lab and in USAF aircraft field tests, and makes recommendations on potential courses of action for the RCAF. To summarize, the RCAF could potentially switch to Jet-A1 with FSII, CI/LI and SDA additives, which is a slight variation to the USAF’s strategy, because RCAF aircraft are more likely to operate in colder climates, Alaska excepted.