In addition to the quantity of fuels placed on the Weather Islands
it was necessary to preposition a quantity of drummed AvGas at Ponape.
The fuel was used to refuel SA-16 aircraft enroute to Kapingamarangi on
island resupply missions.
Because of extension of the test operation
and a number of unanticipated flights, fuel stocks at Ponape were exhausted by June 1958.
Through negotiations with the Weather Bureau at
Ponape we were able to secure AvGas at a cost of $.47 per gallon.
Although this cost was high, it was a cheaper solution than shipping
a smll quantity of drummed AvGas to Ponape.
The programmed modifications to the bulk storage facilities will
aid the fuel management, but during future tests, daily monitoring of
fuel status and expeditious testing by the fuels laboratory will pre-
’~
bably still be required.
s
~—)
176
APWLING