Issue 35 - January 24, 2008

In this issue of the EADS North America Tanker Activity Update:

•	A professional boomer's viewpoint of the EADS Aerial Refueling Boom System

The EADS advanced aerial refueling boom for Northrop Grumman’s KC-30 Tanker is proving its capabilities as a highly accurate system for the delivery of fuel in even the most demanding operational conditions.

Don Cash is shown at the ARBS boom operator's station aboard the A310 demonstrator aircraft.

This is the viewpoint of Donald R. Cash, a seasoned U.S. boom operator who performed the initial Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS) contacts with an F-16A combat aircraft last month, and has been involved in its development since 2004.   

The ARBS will equip A330 MRTT (Multi-role Tanker Transport) aircraft acquired by Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia; and also is included on the Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker version offered for the U.S. Air Force’s KC-135 replacement program.

“The ARBS’ initial contacts with the F-16 were a ‘walk in the park,’ with the fly-by-wire system proving to be very smooth, easy to operate and extremely accurate to control,” Cash said.  “There were no surprises; the ARBS performed exactly as we have seen in the ground simulation.”

Cash has significant experience in aerial refueling operations, having spent 21 years as a “boomer” in the U.S. Air Force.  His more than 8,000 flight hours include operational refueling missions aboard USAF KC-135s and KC-10s, along with a 12-year assignment to the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California for boom system testing and qualification.

Working with EADS’ Military Transport Aircraft Division, Cash is assisting in the ARBS’ definition, development and flight test.   “Our program team brings together some of the best people in human factors and human engineering, and everyone is totally dedicated to delivering the world’s most capable refueling boom system to customers,” he explained.  “In addition, this team has significant digital fly-by-wire experience through its role in developing the Eurofighter combat aircraft.”

The initial ARBS contacts conducted by Cash in December utilized the boom system installed on an A310 demonstrator aircraft.  His ARBS hook-ups with the F-16A were performed at an altitude of 27,000 ft. and a speed of 275 kts.   This was preceded by proximity tests with both the F-16 and an F-18.

“My goal for the ARBS is to ensure that boom operators will be very comfortable with the system from the moment they are seated at the control console,” Cash said.  “My first ‘pole in the hole’ experience with the F-16 confirms this.”

The ARBS is controlled from a Remote Aerial Refueling Operator (RARO) console.  Cash said the console’s three-dimensional vision surveillance system provides a high-fidelity representation of the boom's position during the entire air-to-air refueling process.    As the exact same viewing conditions are created with the ARBS’ ground-based simulator, operators will be able to transition easily to the tanker aircraft after their initial training/qualification on the simulator.

“Our approach is to make sure the ARBS is totally transparent to the operator during in-flight refueling,” Cash concluded.  “All operators – whether they are seasoned ‘boomers’ or with no experience – will feel very comfortable operating this system.”

Contact:
Guy Hicks
Vice President – Communications and Public Relations
EADS North America
Tel: 703 236-3300
e-mail: guy.hicks@eads-na.com