New 'AIM2' saves fuel, time, money at 49th LRS

by Airman 1st Class Leah Murray
49th Wing Public Affairs

1/22/2013 - HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M.  -- The 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron recently installed new automotive informational modules (version 2.4), better known as "AIM2," at both fueling stations and in 519 government vehicles at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.

AIM2 is a fossil fuel savings initiative that supports Energy Independence and Security Act 2007 and Presidential Executive Order 13423.

These modules work through the use of radio frequency technology to track fuel consumption data and process data for vehicles pertaining to maintenance repairs, which will save both money and manpower - about 1.5 million man hours per year across the Air Force, according to 49th LRS vehicle management superintendent Senior Master Sgt. Dan Keen.

"This will also prevent human error when refueling vehicles," said Staff Sgt. Mario Garcia, a 49th LRS vehicle maintainer. The human error factor will be eliminated because Vehicle Identification Link keys, which have been the standard method of refueling vehicles. VIL keys are not attached to specific vehicles the way AIM2 is.

Garcia and a fellow vehicle maintainer, Senior Airman Matthew Aucutt, have been dedicated to the project along with two visiting contractors since November 2012, and have now installed the system in more than 90 percent of the fleet. The project is scheduled to be complete by the end of January 2013, according to Keene.

"Every vehicle has some version of 'OBDs,' or onboard diagnostics," said Keene, a 21-year veteran of the Air Force. Normally, if someone's dashboard light goes on, they have to bring it to a maintenance facility and have a computer plugged into the car in order to read the error codes and determine what is wrong with the vehicle. AIM2, however, wirelessly downloads all the necessary data about each vehicle to the system at the unit any time a vehicle drives within 1,000 feet of the building.

"This bypasses that whole system," he said. "Instead of exclusively relying on the user to bring it in, we can see that it has a problem and we can request that the user bring it in."

Bottom line, AIM2 eliminates the need to find the vehicle and record the odometer readings, eliminates the need to process VIL key paperwork, eliminates the need to input odometer readings when refueling, and provides more concise vehicle fuel consumption data so leadership can accurately depict vehicle fuel consumption, according to the senior master sergeant.

The vehicles affected by AIM2 at Holloman AFB use approximately 187,200 gallons of gasoline and 86,400 gallons of diesel each year.