The Conference is part of a particular agreement that regulates the transfers of carbolubricants between the participating countries. Last October, at the POL Network Command in Parma, the annual Fuel Exchange Agreement (FEA) Conference – Multinational Reconciliation Meeting was held. The conference was characterized by the presence of representatives from the countries that are part of the FEA agreement, along with the usual participation of representatives from other countries interested in the compensation of aviation fuels.
The FEA is an agreement concluded between the Hellenic Air Force, the US Defense Logistics Agency Energy – DLAE), and the air forces of Greece and Turkey, under which the reciprocal transfers of petroleum products are governed by nature rather than by monetary terms. This mode of managing transactions has, since its inception, enabled a significant simplification of the technical and administrative activities involved and has ensured the immediate re-allocation of the quantities transferred.
The extreme convenience offered by the compensation, combined with the simplification of procedures, were the key to the success of the “system” FEA and, over time, they have become an example of collaboration in the NATO context. All of this is evidenced by Spain’s recent entry into the Agreement and the numerous bilateral agreements of identical nature that normally take place during the FEA Conference between aeronautical authorities from nations not included in the agreement but which, by chance, are also present this year in the edition curated by Italy.
The work took place in a climate of great cordiality and mutual understanding between the parties, and, also thanks to the organization provided by the POL Network Command, it concluded with widespread satisfaction among all the participants. In particular, the important objective achieved by the Armed Forces was to be able to recover the quantities of fuel that had been previously transferred for the needs of operations related to resolving the Libyan crisis.
The chairman of the conference was Mr. Chuck Pope from US-DLA Energy. The Air Force was represented by a team from the Logistics Support Service, led by Colonel Gianni Spaziani as co-chairmain. The representative of the Directorate of Aeronautical Armaments was also present at the proceedings. To complete the multinational group, representatives from the aeronautical sectors of Denmark, Greece, the United Kingdom, Spain and Turkey attended the annual Fuel Exchange Agreement (FEA) Conference – Multinational Reconciliation Meeting held in Parma last October. In the welcoming setting of the ITAF “Comando Rete POL”, the conference was characterized by the presence of the representatives of the signatory states to the FEA agreement, along with the usual participation of the delegates of other nations interested in the trade-off of aviation fuel. The FEA is an agreement stipulated between the Italian Air Force, which at the time was the US Defense Energy Support Center (now called the US Defense Logistics Agency Energy – DLAE), and the Air Force of Greece and Turkey. According to this document, the reciprocal cessions of fuel are regulated on the basis of the replacement in kind approach, rather than in monetary terms. This management approach to transactions has always allowed for a significant simplification of the technical and administrative activities related to them, while ensuring the immediate reintegration of the ceded quantities. The great convenience of this exchange method, due to the simplification of procedures itself, has represented the key for the success of the FEA system and, over time, they have represented an example of the spirit of collaboration existing in the NATO sphere. All of this is testified by the recent joining of Spain to the Agreement, as well as the multiple bilateral agreements of identical nature, which usually take place on the occasion of the FEA Conference, between the Air Forces of nations that are not members of the agreement itself, thus explaining the reason for their presence also at this year’s Italian edition of the Conference. The Conference activities took place in a setting of great friendliness and reciprocal understanding among the members and, thanks to the organization ensured by the Comando Rete POL, they ended with great satisfaction from all participants. Mr. Chuck Pope of the US-DLA Energy was the Conference Chairman. The Italian Air Force was represented by a team of the Logistic Command headed by Col. Gianni Spaziani, acting as Conference co-chairman. The representative of the IT-MOD (Directorate for Aviation Armaments) was also present in the activities. To complete this international structure, the representatives of the Air Forces of Denmark, Greece, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Turkey were also present.
