Aerial Refuel

TACAN: T/R (not A/A)

KC-10: DME and Bearing

KC-135: DME only

Ορίζουμε Channel and Band και εμφανίζεται το callsign του tanker στο beacon

Στο HSI επιλέγουμε TCN και εμφανίζεται η απόσταστη και η πορεία για το tanker.

20 nm Contact

F6. Tanker...

F1. Texaco

F1. Intent to Refuel

DED Position

Air Refueel Open

Ext Tanks 3-5'

Anti-Coll Off

Aerial Ref BRT

1. Read your mission briefing to know the TACAN station channel of your KC 135 Tanker (14X) and the UHF AM channel frequency you can communicate with it (251.000).

2. Power up your TACAN by setting the MIDS LVT switch to ON.

3. Adjust TACAN volume as desired.

4. Press T ILS Button on the ICP (Integrated Control Panel) to access TACAN ILS DED (Data Entry Display) menu.

5. Press Dobber Switch DOWN to highlight the CHAN field. Use the ICP keypad to type in the new channel Press ENTR to accept the changes.

6. If required, you may change the band by selecting the M SEL 0 button on the ICP, then pressing ENTR This toggles the band between X and Y.

7. Toggle the Dobber Switch RIGHT (to cycle through TACAN modes until TCN A/A TR (Air to Air Transmit Receive) is selected.

8. Press Dobber Switch LEFT (to return to CNI (Navigation Identification) DED menu. The range to TACAN will be displayed on the DED.

9. On the EHSI (Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator), press “M” (Mode Selector) button to select mode. This will slave the EHSI to the TACAN beacon.

10. Verify that C&I Selector (Navigation Αids, and Identification) is set to UFC (Up Front Control).

11. Press COM 1 button on the ICP (Integrated Control Panel) to select UHF Radio.

12. On the ICP, enter frequency the Τanker’s UHF frequency as 25100 251.00MHz, then press “ button.

13. Press Communications Transmit Switch AFT and contact tanker (F6).

14. Select “Intent to refuel” in the tanker menu. The tanker will give you an altitude (usually 20.000ft or 10.000 ft) to rendezvous at and a speed to match (ie 300kts).

15. Before attempting a refueling, we need to reduce our workload as much as possible. One such measure is to display the BINGO FUEL DED page data on the Heads Up Display, which means you don’t need to glance at that awkwardly positioned Fuel Quantity Indicator.

16. Set DED (Data Entry Display) Data Switch FWD, which will allow data from the DED to be visible on the HUD.

17. Press the LIST button, then press 2 on the ICP (Integrated Control Panel) to select BNGO (Bingo Fuel) DED Page.

18. Open AIR REFUEL trap door.

    • Note 1 If refueling with external tanks, this must be done 5 to 6 minutes prior to refueling to allow the external tanks to depressurize (required if you want to fill them up with fuel as well).

    • Note 2 When door is open, the Flight Control System (will change its control gain to make precise movements easier).

19. Confirm that RDY light illuminates, which indicates that door has opened properly.

20. Set Master Arm switch to OFF.

21. Set RF (Radio Frequency) Switch to SILENT. All electronic signals for the aircraft will be disabled, including the radar, radar altimeter, data link, TACAN transmit, and ECM (Electronic Countermeasures).

22. Once you are close enough, position yourself 20ft below the refueling boom and call the tanker to begin pre contact If you are lined up properly, he will grant you permission to approach.

23. Make sure you are perfectly trimmed before beginning your approach.

24. Fly formation with the tanker, not the boom.

25. Perform gentle, small stick inputs to move towards the boom. Do not use rudder pedals. Use short bursts of throttle to advance towards the tanker.

26. Allow the boom to pass just left or right of your canopy, about 2 3 feet above your head. This serves as a good first check that you are at the proper height relative to the Τanker.

27. Continue to move slowly forward, maintaining alignment with the yellow stripe painted on the bottom of the tanker. Use the Pilot Director lights on the bottom of the tanker to maintain a position within the limits of the boom.

28. The PDI (Pilot Director) lights are directive, meaning they tell you the direction to travel and not your current position. In other words, preface the D, U, F and A with the word Go.

    • If the light moves toward the D, go down and if it moves toward the U, go up

    • If the light moves toward the A, go aft and if it moves toward the F, go forward

    • A steady light means a substantial correction is required

    • A flashing light means a small correction is required

29. Fly formation on the tanker and allow the boom operator to direct the boom into the refueling receptacle behind the cockpit on your aircraft.

30. The boomer will announce “ and ”you are taking fuel” when the connection is established.

31. The AR/NWS light will illuminate Monitor your fuel transfer on the HUD (Heads Up Display) and BNGO DED (Data Entry Display) page.

32. Keep the aircraft aligned with the tanker using reference points such as its engines and its centerline This will help you evaluate if your aircraft drifts or not Correct one axis at a time only.

33. Refueling procedure will be completed when the “DISC” warning light illuminates.

34. Ιf you wish to disconnect before that, press your “Nosewheel Steering A/R Disc” button on your HOTAS joystick to unlatch the boom from your fuel trap door.

35. Close AIR REFUEL trap door and resume flight.

    • Note failing to shut the trap door may result in your aircraft not being able to use fuel from your external tanks

In Real Life (IRL)

Older KC-135s only have the ability to transpond air to air which gives "yardstick" just like between two F-16s. Rendezvous would be accomplished by voice comms, prior planning, AWACS direction, fighter radar, etc. Aerial refueling does not strictly require radio navigation aids of any kind. Newer KC-135Rs with Pacer CRAG upgrade have the ability to provide bearing and transponding air to air service. KC-10s and other refueler aircraft may have range and bearing service.

KC-10s have bearing on the tacan, however, may not always transmit bearing (can choose to shut it off) and it depends on the mission. This is likely the root of the discrepancy if the source of the information is from fighter pilots, not tanker crew. 

Regardless of refueler aircraft particular equipment and capability, all tanker-provided TACAN service is done in the air-to-air mode. This means the refueling aircraft only receives information from the tanker when their equipment is set to the air-to-air mode and never when set to the air-to-ground mode.

In DCS

• Tankers have "ground" type TACAN and should be communicated in T/R mode, not in A/A. (Bignewy)

• KC-135 does not provide heading from TACAN, only DME.

• Some tankers do give bearing information, the KC-10 included.

• The "Bearing" checkbox in the Mission Editor action "Activate TACAN" has no effect, when used with Refueling aircraft.

Go into the ME and click on the tanker, find the waypoint that has the Tacan information in the Advanced (Waypoint Actions) and click on that. The tab that comes up to the left has a check box next to Bearing. For all of the tankers, make sure that this box is UNCHECKED. While in the mission, when you enter the Tacan channel, DO NOT select A/A, keep it on T/R. Now you will find that the Tacan for the tankers is functioning "normally" or rather, as you would expect it to.