Bowser hitch for RAAF refuelling

[Guest Chainsaw]

THE Royal Australian Air Force is facing a critical in-flight refuelling capability gap of up to two years due to the delay in delivery of its KC-30B tankers and the retirement of its last Boeing 707 tanker.

The KC-30B is a military version of the Airbus A330-200 in service with Qantas and Jetstar, and the RAAF has five on order from Airbus's parent, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co (EADS).

 

The first aircraft was to be delivered early next year.

 

But expanded requirements by the RAAF have contributed to the delayed delivery, now slated for April 2009, with an operational date of late 2009 or early 2010.

 

Complicating matters, the certification of the aircraft's refuelling boom is behind schedule and is not expected to be operational till late 2010, says one industry expert.

 

Andrew McLaughlin, deputy editor of Australian Aviation, said "EADS has never built a flying boom before and are on a steep learning curve". However, Mr McLaughlin added that the major problem for EADS - and for Boeing - was that whereas previous booms were mechanical and "flown" by an operator, the latest generation was all-digital.

 

However, according to Fabrice Rochereau, the CEO of EADS Australia-Pacific, EADS is pleased with progress to date of trials of the KC-30B Aerial Refuelling Boom System.

 

"The flight-test program is proceeding satisfactorily and initial results of tests of the new boom flight control laws are very encouraging," he said.

 

"The next step is to conduct air-to-air proximity trials using a Spanish Air Force F-18, before progressing to dry (no fuel transfer) contacts with a Portuguese Air Force F-16.

 

"Planning for these tests will take a minimum three weeks, so we expect the first contact to take place late November or early December."

 

The KC-30B - which first flew in June - is also fitted with two hose-and-drogue refuelling baskets, which are used for the RAAF's fleet of F/A-18s and the new Super Hornets ordered this year. The RAAF's new Wedgetail A30 Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft (AEW&C), based on the Boeing 737-700, and the planned F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) both require the flying boom.

 

According to the Department of Defence (DOD) annual report 2006-07, a change to the acquisition contract (for the KC-30B) was approved in December 2006, for "design changes to the cockpit layout and the consequential change to a two-phased conversion and test approach."

 

Phase 1 ground testing commenced in March as planned and the first flight was achieved in June 15 but DOD admits that Phase 1 flight testing is late and the KC-30B is being readied on the flight line for the start of the Phase 1 flight-test program.

 

EADS expects to commence testing in the next few days, which will continue for eight to 10 weeks.

 

"As a result of the good progress to date, EADS is very confident of meeting the contractual February 2009 delivery date equipped with the ARBS (Aerial Refuelling Boom System)," Mr Rochereau said.

 

DOD also lists the qualification of the "new refuelling boom system" as a medium risk for the KC-30B program.

 

DOD adds that "this risk is managed through the EADS-funded technology demonstration and qualification program for the new boom system, including flight testing on a converted A310 demonstrator aircraft".

 

It also states in the report that "delays in boom qualification have also been mitigated by the change to a two-phase conversion and test approach, whereby final qualification of the boom is not required until commencement of Phase 2 flight testing".

 

Mr McLaughlin is, however, bullish on the KC-30B's capabilities. "Compared to a 707 it will replace, the KC-30B will carry twice the fuel, twice the distance and will be able to loiter for twice the time. A fleet of five KC-30Bs will give the RAAF an eight to 10-fold increase in refuelling capability over the four 707s we used to have," he said.

 

Late last month the DOD announced that only one 707 tanker will be in service for the next eight months following the retirement of the RAAF's only other 707.

 

Originally the RAAF had a fleet of five 707s and the retired aircraft is being cannibalised for spares.

 

A Department of Defence spokesperson said that although the EADS CASA A310 boom demonstrator program was behind its original schedule, at this stage there was sufficient lead time to complete boom testing prior to commencement of A330 flight testing in mid-2008.

 

The spokesman added that achievement of the Initial Operating Capability of the RAAF KC-30B was on track, although there were risks and the development and certification of the refuelling modification was a technically complex project.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 49,00.html