F16C/D (BLOCKS 50 AND 52+). FLIGHT MANUAL (15 OCTOBER 2002) - page 59

T.O. GR1F16CJ1

78

For preflight, carefully inspect the following areas

for volcanic dust:

D

ECS ram inlet ducts.

D

Engine inlet.

D

LG strut chrome surface.

D

Pitot tube, air data probes, and AOA probes.

D

Static ports.

After engine start, keep ground operation time and

thrust to a minimum and run airconditioning at full

cold setting, if practical. Do not use antiice unless

required.

Taxi at a safe speed considering surface conditions,

GW, slope, and thrust. As volcanic ash, especially

when wet, reduces RCR, perform a rolling takeoff, if

possible.

Consider increasing the interval between takeoffs to

allow clouds of suspended volcanic ash to clear.

After landing, consider shutting down the engine

and have aircraft towed to the parking area.

Use RCR of 18 for dry volcanic ash and 10 for wet

volcanic ash if actual RCR value is unknown.

INFLIGHT OPERATIONS

Flight in a volcanic ash environment is extremely

hazardous. Airborne radar does not detect ash

clouds which visually are easily mistaken for normal

clouds.

Some indications of volcanic ash cloud penetration

are:

D

Acrid odor.

D

Canopy opaquing.

D

Engine exhaust torching.

D

Engine surges/malfunctions.

D

Erroneous airspeed indications/fluctuations.

D

FTIT rise.

D

Saint Elmo's fire.

D

Volcanic ash entering cockpit.

Upon detecting volcanic ash cloud penetration,

reduce thrust and maintain minimum thrust

required to sustain flight, exit the volcanic ash

environment, and land as soon as practical. Do not

use antiice unless required.

PW 229

 Engine operation above 80 percent rpm while

ingesting volcanic ash may cause buildup of melted

ash on turbine hardware and possible engine stalls.

If possible, keep rpm at 80 percent or less until clear

of volcanic ash.

T.O. GR1F16CJ1

Change 181

SECTION VIII

AIR REFUELING PROCEDURES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Introduction

82

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

General

82

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Control of Tanker/Receiver Forces

82

. . . . . . . 

Wingman Receiver Responsibilities

82

. . . . . . 

Airspeeds and Altitudes

82

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Fuel Reserve Requirements

82

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Weather

82

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Refueling Transfer Rate

82

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Communications

82

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Oral Communications

83

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Visual Signals

86

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Hot Armament Procedures

86

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Lighting

86

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Receiver Director Lights KC135

811

. . . . . . 

Receiver Director Lights 

KC10/KDC10

811

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Navigation and Position Reporting

811

. . . . . . 

Post Air Refueling

812

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Flying Safety

812

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Boom Envelope Limits

812

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Air Refueling Procedures

817

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Departure/Enroute Procedures

817

. . . . . . . . . . 

Cell Leader Responsibility

817

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Buddy Departure

817

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Taxi

817

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

LineUp

817

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Takeoff

817

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Aborts During Takeoff

817

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Element JoinUp and Climb

817

. . . . . . . . 

Element Cruise Formation

818

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Force Extension Procedures

818

. . . . . . . . . . 

VMC Procedures

819

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

IMC or Night Procedures

819

. . . . . . . . . . 

Post Refueling Procedures

819

. . . . . . . . . 

Lost Wingman Procedures

819

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Abort Procedures

820

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Rendezvous Procedures

820

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Altimeter Settings

820

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Rendezvous Altitude Block

820

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Track

821

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Tanker Rendezvous Equipment

821

. . . . . . . 

Receiver Formation During 

Rendezvous

821

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Early Arrival

822

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Tanker Identification

822

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Point Parallel Rendezvous

822

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Point Parallel Rendezvous With

Tanker Escort

823

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Receiver TurnOn Rendezvous

824

. . . . . . . . 

Rendezvous Overrun

824

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Enroute Rendezvous

824

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Departure and Climb

824

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Enroute Rendezvous Procedures

824

. . . . 

Alternate Rendezvous Procedures

826

. . . . . 

Emission Option 3

827

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Missed Rendezvous Procedures

827

. . . . . . . 

Special Air Refueling Procedures

827

. . . . . . . . 

Refueling Sequence

827

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Fingertip Formation

827

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Echelon Formation (VMC Only)

827

. . . . 

Fuel Management

828

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Precontact

828

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Boom and Receptacle Procedures

828

. . . . . . 

Disconnect KC135

829

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Disconnect KC10/KDC10

829

. . . . . . . . . 

Quick Flow Air Refueling

Procedures

829

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Toboggan

831

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Weather Abort Procedures

831

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Afterburner Air Refueling

831

. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Separation/Termination Procedures

831

. . . 

Separation From a Single Tanker

831

. . . 

Cruise Cell Termination (VMC)

831

. . . . . 

Cruise Cell Termination (IMC)

831

. . . . . 

Cell Termination at Terminal 

Approach Fix

831

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Element Penetration

832

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Receiver Radar Rejoin Procedures

(IMC)

832

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Normal Air Refueling Procedures

834

. . . . . . . . 

Armament Safety Check

834

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Precontact

834

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Contact

834

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Disconnect

834

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Post Air Refueling

834

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Emergency Air Refueling Procedures

835

. . . . 

Breakaway Procedures

835

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

System Malfunctions

835

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Slipway Door Will Not Open

835

. . . . . . . 

Slipway Door Will Not Close

835

. . . . . . . 

Inoperative Boom/Receptacle

Latching

836

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

KC10/KDC10 Boom FLCS Failure

836

. . . 

Brute Force Disconnect

836

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Inadvertent Disconnect

836

. . . . . . . . . . . 

Controlled Tension Disconnect

836

. . . . . 

T.O. GR1F16CJ1

82Change 1

INTRODUCTION

This section contains information and procedures for

F16 air refueling with KC135 and KC10/KDC10

aircraft. For basic flight crew air refueling proce

dures, refer to T.O. 11C1.

GENERAL

This section reflects Emission Option 2 procedures

unless noted within the text. Inflight situations and

sound judgement may dictate discontinuing commu

nications procedures outlined for Emission Option 2.

Both tanker and receiver crew must be thoroughly

familiar with all aspects of the refueling in order to

adequately plan the mission. Planners will coordi

nate and crews will be thoroughly familiar with

mission requirements as prescribed in the appropri

ate command directives.

The air refueling operation requires precise and

detailed planning to insure success. Each receiver unit

will maintain a file of T.O. 11C1 along with this

manual.

CONTROL OF TANKER/RECEIVER FORCES

An airborne tanker force commander and alternate

commanders, as required by the mission, will be

designated for each air refueling area. During

operational missions, the tanker commander is in

command of the air refueling operation from the

period subsequent to positive radio contact between

the tanker cell leader and the receiver leader during

rendezvous until the end of the refueling or

termination of route cell formation, as applicable. The

airborne tanker force commander will coordinate

with the receiver force commander to insure

successful mission completion.

WINGMAN RECEIVER RESPONSIBILITIES

To assist the cell leader in insuring the safety and

integrity of the flight, the wingman receiver will:

D

Keep the leader in visual or electronic contact at all

times.

D

Maintain briefed position at all times.

D

Anticipate corrections/changes and plan accordingly.

D

Monitor all aspects of formation operations and

advise the cell leader if an unsafe condition is noted.

AIRSPEEDS AND ALTITUDES

Cruise and air refueling KCAS is 310 knots at 30,000

feet unless specifically directed otherwise. Lower

altitudes may be required for abnormally high free air

temperatures. The controlling agency directing the

mission will be responsible for obtaining enroute and

air refueling altitude clearance for training and

operational missions.

FUEL RESERVE REQUIREMENTS

For deployment operations, the last receiver in the

cell will depart the penetration fix at the abort or

destination base with a minimum of 30 minutes of

fuel remaining, computed in accordance with

command guidance.

WEATHER

Weather minimums are prescribed by command

guidance. Buddy departure minimums are 1500 feet

and 3 NM for day and 2500 feet and 3 NM for night

takeoffs.

Rendezvous and air refueling will not be attempted

when inflight visibility is deemed insufficient for safe

air refueling operations; however, the aircraft may

close to the lockon limits of the radar provided that

the required altitude separation is maintained until

visual contact has been established. Without lockon

capability, minimum visibility for rendezvous is 1 NM.

REFUELING TRANSFER RATE

The air refueling transfer rate averages 2,000 pounds

per minute with two tanker A/R pumps operating

with a KC135 and 3,000 pounds per minute with a

KC10/KDC10.

COMMUNICATIONS

Except during an emergency fuel situa

tion, air refueling operations will not be

conducted when radio communication

capability is lost between tanker and

receivers. If radio communications are

lost, or unreadable between the boom

operator and receiver pilot, contacts will

not be attempted.

Emission Option 2 will be used as the normal

rendezvous and air refueling procedures. Emission

Option 2, 3, or 4 procedures do not preclude verbal

communications for safety of flight situations or to

insure mission success. Boom interphone should be

used when compatible.

T.O. GR1F16CJ1

Change 183

Communications procedures and plans for rendez

vous and air refueling as outlined in pertinent

command directives will apply. Deviations must be

specifically authorized by the appropriate command

headquarters.

Unless directed otherwise, communication capability

between tankers and receivers will be maintained

during all normal rendezvous and air refueling

operations. Voice transmissions, however, will be held

to an absolute minimum during rendezvous and air

refueling to be in accordance with the Emission Option

being used.

A TalkThroughTheBoom" interphone system is

available after contact when air refueling with all

KC135 tankers if hot mic is selected.

KC10/KDC10 aircraft are equipped with UHF, HF,

and VHF radios and a boom interphone system.

All crewmembers must be thoroughly familiar with

all required oral, visual, and electronic means of

communications. Strict radio discipline must be

adhered to at all times. All calls will be prefaced with

individual call signs. Tankers will begin monitoring

designated frequencies and will have the Radar

Rendezvous Beacon operating at least 30 minutes

prior to the rendezvous control time. The A/A TACAN

will be tuned to the appropriate channel 15 minutes

prior to the rendezvous control time unless it is

required for navigational purposes. Receivers will

call 15 minutes prior to the air refueling control time,

advising the tanker(s) of call signs, any changes in

ETA (minutes early or late) or altitude, and hot

armament check (if required).

NOTE

F

If tankers and receivers are in contact

with a common facility providing rendez

vous assistance, radio contact between

the tanker and receivers may be delayed

to accomplish the rendezvous.

F

During enroute rendezvous, all A/R

equipment operations, interplane

communications, and timing should be

based on the RZ time. For example, the

A/A TACAN should be tuned to the

appropriate channel 15 minutes prior

to the RZIP unless it is required for

navigational purposes.

The tanker will advise the receiver(s) of their call

sign, air refueling altitude and, if applicable, any

change in tanker timing that would affect the

rendezvous (in minutes early or late).

Tanker(s) and/or receiver(s) will make an additional

radio call confirming level at the proper rendezvous

altitude if they are not at the proper rendezvous

altitude when the 15 minute prior to the rendezvous

control time call is made.

NOTE

Tankers and receivers will include

altimeter setting with appropriate

altitude calls if other than 29.92 is used.

For example, RENO 01, ONE TWO

THOUSAND FEET, ALTIMETER SET

TING THREE ZERO ZERO FOUR, ON

TIME." If EMCON 3 or 4, altimeter

setting must be prebriefed.

For all rendezvous and air refueling operations,

tankers and receivers will normally use their

individual flight call signs unless directed otherwise

in operational plans. When assured no other counit

formation will be in range of or using the frequency,

and/or a discrete tactical frequency has been assigned

to the formation, flight call signs may be abbreviated

for clarity and brevity; for example, RENO

FLIGHT....GO ECHELON" (acknowledge) TWO"

THREE."

Mandatory calls for the receivers are as follows:

D

Initial radio call 15 minutes prior to the rendezvous

control time.

D

Notify the tanker when established on the proper

rendezvous altitude, if not at the proper rendezvous

altitude at the 15 minute prior to the ARCT call.

D

Precontact call (required by Flight Leader only).

Oral Communications

NOTE

F

With the exception of the breakaway

calls, crewmembers may shorten indi

vidual flight call signs using only the

number. Example: Tank 11" would be

11."

F

Normally, the receiver leader will

proceed to the precontact position. When

the leader has completed refueling,

subsequent receivers will move from the

observation position as precoordinated.

The communications requirements should be estab

lished prior to the flight. For different EMCON levels,

refer to figure 81 for Emission Option Communica

tions and figure 82 for Emission Option Emitters.

T.O. GR1F16CJ1

84Change 1

Emission Option Communications

ITEM

ACTION

EMISSION OPTION

ITEM

ACTION

1

2

3

4

1.

Radios Set 30 Minutes Prior to ARCT (if dual radio capable)

X

X

*

**

2.

15 Minute Call

X

X

3.

A/A TACAN Set 15 Minutes Prior to ARCT

X

X

***

4.

Beacon Positive Identification (if applicable)

X

5.

ADF Check (if applicable)

X

6.

Halfway Through Turn Call (Tanker)

X

7.

Mandatory Boom Operator Calls

a. Precontact Call
b. Clear Receiver to Contact
c. Acknowledge Contact/Disconnect
d. Verbal Corrections
e. Advise Receiver(s) to Return to Precontact for checklist

or equipment considerations

X
X
X
X
X

X

8.

Mandatory Receiver Calls After 15 Minute Call

a. Visual Contact Established/Lost to Include Overrun
b. Precontact Call
c. When Contact or Disconnect is Made
d. Verbally notify Boom Operator prior to Manual/

Emergency Boom Latching Procedures

X
X
X
X

X

X

9.

Post Air Refueling Report

X

X

10.

1 Mile Closure Call (Receiver)

X

*Radio silent. Use of other emitters is authorized unless prohibited by Supported Operations Plans.

**No emissions (UHF, VHF, TACAN, FCR/Radar, AIFF/IFF, exterior lighting, etc.) unless authorized by Air

Tasking Order, Rules of Engagement, Operations Plans, Safe Passage procedures, or other mission

directives.

***Point parallel rendezvous only.

NOTE

:

Variations may be indicated by, EMCON 2. Item 7a/8b COMM N/A." This would mean normal Emission Option

2 procedures, except the precontact call would be deleted.

Figure 81.

T.O. GR1F16CJ1

Change 185

Emission Option Emitters

ITEM

EQUIPMENT

EMISSION OPTION

ITEM

EQUIPMENT

1

2

3

4

1.

FCR/Radar

On

On

As required

Off

2.

CARA/Radar Altimeter

On

On

As required

Off

3.

TACAN/DME

On

On

As required

Off

4.

AIFF/IFF

On

On

As required

Off

5.

UHF/VHF Radio

On

On

Monitor

Monitor

6.

Exterior Lighting

On

On

As required

Off

NOTE

: 

Variations may be indicated by, EMCON 3. Item 1 Emitters Off." This would mean normal Emission Option

3 procedures, except the FCR would be off.

Figure 82.

T.O. GR1F16CJ1

86Change 1

Normally, boom visual signals will be used

exclusively; however, if required or requested by the

receiver, the boom operator will begin communica

tions when the receiver reaches approximately 50

feet from the contact position. Direction, if required,

will precede distance for receiver to move and will be

given until the receiver reaches the contact position.

Example: Forward 50," Up 4," Back 2." When

contact is established, the tanker will state, (Tanker

call sign), contact."

For Emission Option 1 and 2, the boom operator will

make a precontact audio check with receiver(s) and

the receiver(s) will acknowledge. Example: Tanker

will say, 25/57." The receiver will reply, 25."

During receiver pilot demonstration of air refueling

envelope limits, the boom operator will state boom

limit and give the boom position for the limit being

demonstrated in increments of 2.

When the tanker is required to use manual operation,

without disconnect capability, the boom operator will

state: (Receiver call sign), the following contacts will

be made in tanker manual operation. Receiver air

refueling system will remain in normal and receiver

pilot must initiate all disconnects. (Tanker call sign),

ready." Receiver pilot acknowledges by stating,

(Receiver call sign), ready."

Visual Signals

Refer to figure 83. Radio silent air refueling can be

conducted by use of visual signals provided the

following precautions and procedures are observed:

D

The method, time and place of rendezvous, and

amount of fuel to be transferred must be covered in

the briefing of each crew.

D

The tanker will use the receiver director lights (red

only) to aid in positioning the receiver. A steady red

light indicates a large correction and a flashing red

light indicates a small correction in the direction

indicated.

D

If the need for an emergency breakaway occurs

during radio silent air refueling, oral breakaway

procedures and the visual signal in figure 83 will be

used.

Hot Armament Procedures

Prior to rendezvous with the tanker for air refueling,

receiver aircraft carrying forward firing ordnance

will conduct an Armament Safety Check in

accordance with NORMAL AIR REFUELING

PROCEDURES, this section. When radio silence is

mandatory, the receiver leader will conduct a visual

challenge with each member of his flight by pointing

his index finger straight forward and thumb upward

(simulating a pistol). Each member of the flight will

complete the safety check and respond to the leader

by raising his hand and showing a circle formed by his

index finger and thumb. To reduce the possibility of

inadvertent firing, receivers will not reposition any

electrical switches while behind a tanker unless those

switch changes are required for air refueling

operations or aircraft control.

LIGHTING

Refer to figure 84. While approaching the precontact

or contact position, the receiver pilot can adjust

exterior lighting as required by the boom operator.

NOTE

Visual contact for night air refueling can

be aided by requesting the tanker to

flash his landing lights prior to and/or

during the tanker turn.

On single KC135 tankers performing a rendezvous

both upper and lower strobes will display red.

NOTE

If the spare is used during the air

refueling, the appropriate color code will

be displayed until the receiver is in the

precontact position. To further aid in

identification, tanker position lights will

be placed on BRIGHT and FLASHING

for numbers 1, 3, and 5. Position lights

for numbers 2 and 4 will be BRIGHT and

STEADY. Position lights will be set prior

to takeoff. After the receiver has

established visual contact and has closed

to 1/2 NM in trail, tankers will turn

position lights to STEADY and DIM and

turn strobe light OFF. When any aircraft

will be flying visual wing formation on

the tanker, the tanker will also turn off

the strobe light. In this case, the last

(outside) receiver aircraft with each

tanker will have anticollision lights ON.

When fighter receivers reach the obser

vation position, tankers will turn under

wing, underbody, and nacelle illuminat

ing lights to DIM. Exterior lights will

then be adjusted as requested by the

receiver pilot.

T.O. GR1F16CJ1

Change 187

Visual Signals

INDICATION

SIGNAL

BOOM AIR REFUELING

PROBE & DROGUE 

REFUELING

1. Boom in Trail

A. Extended 10 feet

*Ready for Contact

B. Fully extended

1. Tanker Manual Operation

without Tanker Disconnect

Capability

Capability

2. Acknowledge Receiver's

Manual Boom Latching Signal

C. Fully retracted

Offload Complete

2. Boom Stowed

A. Fully retracted

Tanker Air Refueling System 

Inoperative

B. Extended 5 feet

System Malfunction, Tanker and

Receiver Check Air Refueling

Systems

3. Flashing Receiver Director

Lights/Tanker Lower Rotat

ing Beacon ON

BREAKAWAY

4. **Receiver Director Lights

Going OUT During Contact

Tanker Request for Disconnect,

Receiver return to Precontact

Position

5. Receiver Closing and Open

ing Receptacle Door when in

Precontact Position

1. Manual Boom Latching

2. Acknowledge Tanker's

Manual Operation without

Manual Operation without

Tanker Disconnect Capability

Signal

6. ***Steady Light from Receiv

er or rocking of wings

Emergency Fuel Shortage Exists

7. Flashing light from receiver

cockpit area

Initiate toboggan maneuver

Figure 83. (Sheet 1)