FOR REFERENCE USE ONLY

Aerial Refueling on a page

ARIP 2500fpm min descent NLT IP – 300/.72 NLT ½ NM – Precontact Check

ARCPExit

Hold at cruise alt

Or no lower than

Base + 2500’ ifRefueling AltitudePost A/R Check

necessaryRendezvous AltitudePost A/R Report (A/R incomplete, ETA

to next CT ∆ by more than 15 min, significant occurrence)

45 min prior to ARCP
Compute Onload Requirement
30 min prior to ARCP (Freakin Beacon)
Tanker beacon on
(shall) Monitor A/R freq
15 min prior to ARCP
Tacan AA (lower Y channel)
CAT call
  • Call Sign
  • Altitude
  • Timing
10 min prior to ARCP
No Radio Contact
  • Tanker flashes beacon
  • 15s on, 15s off
  • Tanker transmit info blind

No Later than ARIP

Rendezvous Check – LE – On, FL – Off at night
Clearance in the block
+ ID (last in cell)

Inbound ARIP (300 KCAS)

Compute Turn Range / Offset
  • Add 1nm per tanker in cell
  • Tanker orbits at 275/.78
  • A/A Tacan primary means
Skin Paint – Tilt = 10 / DME
Hack at Turn range
Halfway through turn
  • KC-10 – 1:12 – 1:15
  • KC-135 – 1:00
  • 1/3 of turn range (3NM rollout behind)

Prior to ½ NM

Precontact Check – Lights - Steady / All / Lower
Radar – Stby or full down tilt prior to precontact
IFF – stby prior to 3NM /

Airspeeds

KC-135
  • 1NM – 280 - 300 / .72
  • ½NM – 270 / .65 or briefed + 15
  • Contact – 252 / .62 or briefed
  • Max in contact = 265 / .64
KC-10
  • 1NM – 300 / .72
  • ½NM – 290 / .70 or briefed + 15
  • Contact – 275 / .66 or briefed
  • Max in contact = 300 / .77

Boom Envelope Limits

KC-135
  • 10º left/right
  • 20 to 40º elevation (35º boom trim inop)
  • 6 to 18’ extension
KC-10
  • 21º left/right
  • 20 to 40º elevation
  • 6 to 21’ extension

Overrun Procedures

Receiver –briefed refuel speed
Tanker – 310kts, maintain alt, may adjust track

Underrun Procedures

Receiver – Up to 325kts, (300kts @ 1NM)
Tanker – slow to A/R speed

Visual Signals

Emer Fuel – Receiver Rock wings or Steady Light
Ready – Boom in trail 10’
Tanker Man Ops – Boom in trail fully extended
AR SYS INOP – Boom stowed
AR SYS MALF – Boom stowed 5’ extended
Tanker req disconnect – PDI lights out in contact
Breakaway – Flashing PDI lights / Lwr beacon on
EBL – Receiver open/close A/R door /

Types of Rendezvous

RV Alpha - Anchor

RV Delta – Point Parallel

RV Golf – Enroute

KC-10 Beacon Display

2 Lines – Distance between lines is double the first digit of the code. Example 4/1 means 8NM between lines

Fuel Transfer Rates

KC-135 – 6,800 ppm
KC-10 – 7,300 ppm

EMCON Options

1 – Everything
2 – 15 min and precontact call
3 – Radio silent, but emitters authorized
4 – Nothing

Radios

A/R freq – All primary crew members
UHF Guard – at least one PNF will monitor
PF – A/R freq and interphone only

Weather

Severe Turbulence – don’t launch if forecast
Mod Turbulence – can launch but term if encounter
Visibility – must be able to see tanker at 1NM, increase to 2NM for 2 or more tankers

Lighting

Night – tail flood & 135 also boom nozzle light
2 ship – RV to R/R (lead) then refuel from 2 W/W
3/4 ship – R/R, W/W, RW/RW, W/R

KC-135 P Emer Sep / Boom Limit Demo

Tanker must demonstrate disc capability /
EMERGENCIES

Breakaway Procedures

Pilot
  • Press A/R disconnect button
  • Throttle – Idle
  • Positive rate of descent
  • T/Rs if needed
CoPilot
  • Press A/R disconnect button
  • Keep tanker in sight until clear
  • Standby for further instructions

Siphoning

Continue at pilot’s discretion
Inspect APU compartments prior to starting

Spillage

Immediate disconnect and terminate refueling
Inspect APU compartments prior to starting

Emergency Boom Latching

Receiver sig amp failure
Receiver initiates all disconnects – Hold button
Tanker briefing required

Tanker Manual Ops(w/ disc capability)

Either can initiate disconnect
Tanker auto disconnect inop, but manual works
No tanker briefing required
Problem / Brief / Approval Req?
EBL
- FE Boom Latch Switch to Emer.
- We initiate all disconnects
- No Ready Light / Receiver Sig Amp / Yes / Mx Cut / OPORD / CONOPS
Tanker Manual ops w/ disc / Tanker auto disc broken / No / No
Tanker Manual Ops w/out disc
- Receiver initiates all disconnects / Tanker Sig Amp / Yes / Mx Cut / OPORD / CONOPS
Manual Boom Latching / Receiver Sig Amp / Yes / Mx Cut / OPORD / CONOPS

155th Airlift SquadronMaj Dominik M. PaulUpdated 17 Apr 2009