M1103 FLIGHT TANKER ~1.5 hours

Air Refueling Flight Execution

Module 3: Air Refueling Operations - Flight | Reference: ATP 3.3.4.2

OBJECTIVE

Execute air refueling procedures from the tanker's perspective, demonstrating proficiency in both RV Delta (Point Parallel) and RV Golf (Enroute) rendezvous procedures, MARSA declaration, receiver management, courtesy calls, and breakaway procedures per ATP 3.3.4.2.

Primary Reference: ATP 3.3.4.2 & M1003

Air Refueling Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures

MISSION OVERVIEW

This flight profile practices both primary rendezvous types from the tanker perspective. You will execute an RV Delta rejoin followed by an RV Golf rejoin, with full receiver management and breakaway practice.

REJOIN 1

RV Delta (Point Parallel)

Tanker on reciprocal track, calculated turn range, roll out 1-3nm ahead of receiver.

REJOIN 2

RV Golf (Enroute)

Common track join-up, receiver overtakes from behind/below at +20 kts.

FLIGHT PROFILE

1

DEPARTURE

Takeoff & Transit to AR Track 1

2

RV DELTA

Point Parallel Rejoin + Refueling

3

RV GOLF

Enroute Rejoin + Refueling

4

RTB

Return to Base

DETAILED FLIGHT SEQUENCE

1 DEPARTURE & TRANSIT

TANKER PARAMETERS

  • • Climb to Assigned Altitude
  • • Speed: As Required
  • • Squawk: As Assigned

ACTIONS

  • • FENCE check on track entry
  • • Set A/A TACAN channel
  • • Contact receiver on AR freq

PRE-RV SETUP (15 MIN PRIOR)

  • • Set Radar/RV Beacon (where fitted)
  • • Set A/A TACAN to briefed channel (Y-channel for receiver compatibility)
  • • Calculate turn range and offset using Tables 2D-6/2D-7
  • • Confirm receiver position via TACAN/radar

2 RV DELTA - POINT PARALLEL REJOIN

Tanker maintains reciprocal track at calculated offset. Execute 25° AOB turn at calculated range to roll out 1-3nm ahead of receiver.

RV DELTA EXECUTION SEQUENCE

  1. Establish on reciprocal track at briefed offset
  2. RV Initial Call: "[Receiver], [Tanker] for RV Delta..."
  3. Monitor receiver via A/A TACAN - call ranges
  4. At calculated turn range: initiate 25° AOB turn
  5. Call: "[Tanker] halfway through the turn"
  6. Roll out on refueling track - receiver should be 1-3nm behind
  7. Receiver calls "Visual" / "Judy"
  8. Declare MARSA when both visual

RV DELTA PARAMETERS

70+ nm

Min Track Length

25° AOB

Turn Bank Angle

1-3 nm

Rollout Range

POST-REJOIN: RECEIVER MANAGEMENT

  1. Clear receiver to observation: "[C/S] Clear join"
  2. Receiver reports: "Echelon Left"
  3. Clear astern: "[C/S] Clear astern"
  4. Clear contact: "[C/S] Clear contact"
  5. Provide boom direction calls as needed
  6. Disconnect: "[C/S] Disconnect"
  7. Practice Breakaway: "BREAKAWAY, BREAKAWAY, BREAKAWAY"
  8. Clear receiver to leave: "[C/S] Clear to leave"

TRANSITION TO AR TRACK 2

After completing RV Delta refueling, transition to AR Track 2 for RV Golf rejoin. Coordinate timing with receiver for ARCT.

  • • Terminate MARSA with receiver
  • • Request ATC clearance to AR Track 2
  • • Coordinate ARCT timing with receiver (receiver to arrive ARCT+30sec)
  • • Set A/A TACAN for Track 2 operations

3 RV GOLF - ENROUTE REJOIN

Both aircraft navigate independently to ARIP. Tanker arrives at ARCT, establishes on common track. Receiver closes from behind/below with 20 kts overtake.

RV GOLF EXECUTION SEQUENCE

  1. Navigate to ARIP, arrive at designated ARCT
  2. At ARCT-15: "[Receiver], [Tanker] for RV Golf..."
  3. Confirm: FL, A/A TACAN, Mode 3, timing
  4. Establish on common track at AAR altitude/speed
  5. Receiver closes from behind (1,000 ft below, +20 kts)
  6. Receiver calls "Judy" then "Visual"
  7. Clear receiver to join: "[C/S] Clear join"
  8. Declare MARSA when visual

RV GOLF PARAMETERS

15 min

Min Track Time

1,000 ft

Receiver Below

+20 kts

Overtake Speed

POST-REJOIN: RECEIVER MANAGEMENT

  1. Same receiver management sequence as RV Delta
  2. Provide courtesy calls for any turns: "Tanker's coming left/right"
  3. Complete refueling cycle
  4. Practice Breakaway
  5. Clear receiver to leave
  6. Terminate MARSA

4 RTB & RECOVERY

  • • FENCE OUT check
  • • Request ATC clearance for RTB
  • • Descend and recover per local procedures
  • • Complete post-flight debrief

TANKER DUTIES SUMMARY

TRACK MAINTENANCE

  • • Hold assigned altitude & heading
  • • Maintain AR speed for receiver type
  • • Smooth, predictable flight path
  • • Autopilot engaged when possible

RECEIVER MANAGEMENT

  • • Issue all clearances (join, astern, contact)
  • • Monitor receiver position
  • • Provide boom direction calls
  • • Courtesy calls for all maneuvers

COMMUNICATIONS

  • • RV initial calls per ATP 3.3.4.2
  • • MARSA declaration/termination
  • • ATC coordination as required
  • • Clear, standard brevity

SAFETY

  • • Breakaway authority for any concern
  • • Monitor receiver fuel state
  • • Track timing awareness
  • • Weather/traffic deconfliction

BREAKAWAY PROCEDURES

Practice at least one breakaway during this flight. Either aircraft may initiate.

"BREAKAWAY, BREAKAWAY, BREAKAWAY"

TANKER:

  1. Flash exterior lights
  2. Maintain altitude
  3. Maintain heading
  4. Maintain airspeed
  5. Monitor receiver separation

RECEIVER:

  1. Throttle - IDLE
  2. Speed brakes - OUT
  3. Descend minimum 500 ft
  4. Clear tanker flight path
  5. Maintain visual

SORTIE TASKS

IP required. A second IP must fly the receiver aircraft — receiver cannot be a non-IP pilot. Fly on VATSIM IAW VATSIM regulations.

Pre-Sortie

  1. 1Brief with IP: RV Delta (Point Parallel) and RV Golf (Enroute) rendezvous geometry, MARSA declaration, receiver management, courtesy calls, and breakaway procedures per ATP 3.3.4.2
  2. 2Coordinate with IP (receiver pilot) on tanker track, refueling altitude, AR frequency, and entry procedures; file flight plan on VATSIM

Sortie — RV Delta (Point Parallel)

  1. 3Depart and establish tanker orbit or track at planned altitude; contact receiver flight on AR frequency
  2. 4Execute RV Delta: turn outbound parallel to receiver, time the turn-in, roll out ahead of receiver for rejoin
  3. 5Declare MARSA; manage receiver to pre-contact position; execute simulated fuel transfer; confirm offload complete; issue breakaway call if required

Sortie — RV Golf (Enroute)

  1. 6Reposition; receive receiver's position report; calculate and fly enroute intercept geometry for RV Golf
  2. 7Manage receiver through second simulated fuel transfer; execute breakaway; complete courtesy calls
  3. 8Return to home field; land full-stop

Post-Sortie

  1. 9Debrief with IP: review rendezvous geometry accuracy, MARSA management, timing, and breakaway execution for both runs
  2. 10Log the sortie in the vTAC flight log system

Approved Callsigns

PLAYER · PULSAR · IRON · ROCKY — simulated AR sortie
BLACK · CHOSEN · STAFF — if command is present

COMPLETION STANDARDS

Trainees will demonstrate proficiency in tanker operations. Must:

  • • Successfully execute RV Delta (Point Parallel) rendezvous
  • • Successfully execute RV Golf (Enroute) rendezvous
  • • Maintain flight tolerances during AR operations
  • • Execute proper tanker communications per ATP 3.3.4.2
  • • Demonstrate proper MARSA declaration/termination
  • • Execute receiver management (clearances, courtesy calls)
  • • Demonstrate breakaway procedures

FLIGHT TOLERANCES

±100 ft

Altitude

±10°

Heading

±10 kts

Airspeed

Completion: Instructor confirmation of RV Delta & RV Golf execution proficiency

REFERENCES

Previous: M1003