Civilian Owned / Operated Military Air Refueling Services - Background.
Relevant extracts from Defense Industry Daily articles about the only other company in this sector in the USA - Omega. There is of course also the much bigger operator Air Tanker in the UK which won the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) competition.
"Aerial tankers are essential when moving large quantities of men and materials long distances, or stretching the range and length of fighter combat air patrols. Most are government-owned, but a segment of semi-privatized services may be set to grow alongside existing military fleets. Could DID readers find themselves flying to an Azores vacation on a chartered aerial tanker during its “spare hours”? Thanks to Britain’s FSTA public-private aerial tanker partnership, they absolutely could.
The USA’s KC-45 competition was set to buy up to 179 aircraft instead. Even here, however, some outsourcing is going on. Enter Omega Refueling Services, Inc.
Omega Refueling Services, Inc. currently has 2 operational Boeing 707-300 series tankers, originally converted in 1996 by BAE Systems and TRACOR. The Omega K-707s use hose-and-drogue systems that allow them to refuel US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, and those of many foreign countries. Unfortunately, the K-707 lacks the boom assembly needed to fit with the dorsal refueling slots of most USAF aircraft, which often makes it impossible to fill in for the USAF’s 707-family KC-135 tankers.
Omega’s K-707s are modified with 2 hose and drogue assemblies, electric, hydraulic and fuel lines, and 2 center wing fuel tank pumps. System controls and video monitoring devices in the cockpit control fuel offload. The fuel tank system is similar to a military KC-135, with 2 reserve tanks, 2 outboard main tanks, 2 inboard main tanks, and a center wing tank. The K-707 lacks the KC-135’s forward and aft body tanks, however, and even Omega’s larger wing and fuselage tanks leave the “K-707 Omega” with a slightly lower total fuel capacity of 156,000 – 160,000 pounds. The planes are capable of flying up to 1,600 – 1,800 hours per year.
A larger Omega KDC-10 aircraft is also available. This is a modified DC-10-40, with FRL refueling wing pods from Cobham plc’s subsidiary Sergent-Fletcher. It also uses a hose-and-drogue refueling system, which works well for the US Navy and most foreign customers, but won’t help much with aircraft that require a dorsal refueling boom.
From 2001 to 2004, Omega operated tankers for the US Navy as a subcontractor to Flight International and L-3 Comunications, which had an existing Navy contract flying Learjets. In 2004, Omega was created to manage most aspects of the refueling program. The Department of the Navy was their main customer, via a commercial air services (CAS) contract managed by NAVAIR.
The US Navy’s CAS program provides aerial refueling tanking for Navy and other Department of Defense and government agency aircraft, which includes customers like NASA. It may also be used in support of Foreign Military Sales cases, government contractors, and “other aircraft capable of aerial refueling.” The contract requires 2 refueling aircraft available for service, but there are occasions when simultaneous US Navy exercises or other demands have kept 3 planes at full usage.
The CAS program is administered by NAVAIR SYSCOM PMA-207.5. The tanker is funded for its flying hours to support Navy and Marine Corps Aviation, not for fuel use. Fuel purchases come from government-approved sources, using the same government credit card that military units use to pay for fuel; the costs are allocated and charged to the appropriate squadron, just as fuel from a USAF KC-135 would be. All flights are approved by the government’s Commercial Air Services Manager.
Foreign air forces can also use this contract.
Australia withdrew its own 707-based aerial tanker from service in July 2008. Their Department of Defence has told DID that Omega waS providing air to air refuelling (AAR) services to the RAAF as a bridging option, until Australia’s first A330/KC-30A tankers achieve full operational capability. Activities have included support for exercises like RED FLAG in the USA and PITCH BLACK in northern Australia, Super Hornet training in the USA, and Super Hornet ferry flights from the USA to RAAFB Amberley, Australia. Many of these exercises and evolutions also include USAF and/or USN aircraft, which is convenient for all parties concerned.
Other known foreign contracts have included Britain and Canada."
Relevant extracts from Defense Industry Daily articles about the only other company in this sector in the USA - Omega. There is of course also the much bigger operator Air Tanker in the UK which won the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) competition.
"Aerial tankers are essential when moving large quantities of men and materials long distances, or stretching the range and length of fighter combat air patrols. Most are government-owned, but a segment of semi-privatized services may be set to grow alongside existing military fleets. Could DID readers find themselves flying to an Azores vacation on a chartered aerial tanker during its “spare hours”? Thanks to Britain’s FSTA public-private aerial tanker partnership, they absolutely could.
The USA’s KC-45 competition was set to buy up to 179 aircraft instead. Even here, however, some outsourcing is going on. Enter Omega Refueling Services, Inc.
Omega Refueling Services, Inc. currently has 2 operational Boeing 707-300 series tankers, originally converted in 1996 by BAE Systems and TRACOR. The Omega K-707s use hose-and-drogue systems that allow them to refuel US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, and those of many foreign countries. Unfortunately, the K-707 lacks the boom assembly needed to fit with the dorsal refueling slots of most USAF aircraft, which often makes it impossible to fill in for the USAF’s 707-family KC-135 tankers.
Omega’s K-707s are modified with 2 hose and drogue assemblies, electric, hydraulic and fuel lines, and 2 center wing fuel tank pumps. System controls and video monitoring devices in the cockpit control fuel offload. The fuel tank system is similar to a military KC-135, with 2 reserve tanks, 2 outboard main tanks, 2 inboard main tanks, and a center wing tank. The K-707 lacks the KC-135’s forward and aft body tanks, however, and even Omega’s larger wing and fuselage tanks leave the “K-707 Omega” with a slightly lower total fuel capacity of 156,000 – 160,000 pounds. The planes are capable of flying up to 1,600 – 1,800 hours per year.
A larger Omega KDC-10 aircraft is also available. This is a modified DC-10-40, with FRL refueling wing pods from Cobham plc’s subsidiary Sergent-Fletcher. It also uses a hose-and-drogue refueling system, which works well for the US Navy and most foreign customers, but won’t help much with aircraft that require a dorsal refueling boom.
From 2001 to 2004, Omega operated tankers for the US Navy as a subcontractor to Flight International and L-3 Comunications, which had an existing Navy contract flying Learjets. In 2004, Omega was created to manage most aspects of the refueling program. The Department of the Navy was their main customer, via a commercial air services (CAS) contract managed by NAVAIR.
The US Navy’s CAS program provides aerial refueling tanking for Navy and other Department of Defense and government agency aircraft, which includes customers like NASA. It may also be used in support of Foreign Military Sales cases, government contractors, and “other aircraft capable of aerial refueling.” The contract requires 2 refueling aircraft available for service, but there are occasions when simultaneous US Navy exercises or other demands have kept 3 planes at full usage.
The CAS program is administered by NAVAIR SYSCOM PMA-207.5. The tanker is funded for its flying hours to support Navy and Marine Corps Aviation, not for fuel use. Fuel purchases come from government-approved sources, using the same government credit card that military units use to pay for fuel; the costs are allocated and charged to the appropriate squadron, just as fuel from a USAF KC-135 would be. All flights are approved by the government’s Commercial Air Services Manager.
Foreign air forces can also use this contract.
Australia withdrew its own 707-based aerial tanker from service in July 2008. Their Department of Defence has told DID that Omega waS providing air to air refuelling (AAR) services to the RAAF as a bridging option, until Australia’s first A330/KC-30A tankers achieve full operational capability. Activities have included support for exercises like RED FLAG in the USA and PITCH BLACK in northern Australia, Super Hornet training in the USA, and Super Hornet ferry flights from the USA to RAAFB Amberley, Australia. Many of these exercises and evolutions also include USAF and/or USN aircraft, which is convenient for all parties concerned.
Other known foreign contracts have included Britain and Canada."
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A very apposite motto for those who trade successfully in the OTC market..
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A very apposite motto for those who trade successfully in the OTC market..
All posts are my opinion - trade at your own risk.
