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Mobility Airman profile: McConnell airman first class supports deployed air refueling ops as KC-135 boom operator

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Mobility Airmen supporting air refueling operations in the U.S. Central Command area of operations have off-loaded more than 357 million pounds of fuel to aircraft through the first four months of 2011. While that number of pounds of fuel delivered involves many Airmen, Airman 1st Class Michael Voorhees has contributed directly to that effort as a KC-135 Stratotanker in-flight refueling journeyman.

Deployed to a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia with the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Airman Voorhees supports air refueling efforts for operations New Dawn, Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. Statistics from the Air Forces Central's Combined Air Operations Center also show that in addition to 357 million pounds of fuel delivered; more than 26,000 aircraft were refueled during the first four months of 2011.

As an in-flight refueling journeyman, or boom operator, Airman Voorhees is trained to perform in-flight refueling aircrew functions and activities according to flight manuals, checklists and U.S. Air Force publications, the official Air Force job description for his career field states.

As part of aircrew duties, boom operators like Airman Voorhees are trained to check forms for equipment status, performs visual and operational check of air refueling and associated systems and equipment, and perform pre-flight, through-flight and post-flight inspections. They also accomplish preflight and post-flight records and reports and perform in-flight operational check of air refueling systems.

When performing the air refueling mission, the job description states that boom operators "direct receiver aircraft into air refueling position and operate in-flight air refueling controls and switches to safely affect contact between tanker and receiver aircraft." They monitor the control panel for proper operation of equipment during air refueling and advise the receiver pilot of actions required to safely maintain position within the air-refueling envelope. Boom operators also keep the tanker pilot informed as to progress of air refueling operations and can perform emergency operations and procedures as required for emergency off-load and on-load of fuel.

To track the amount of fuel on board a tanker, in-flight refueling Airmen like Airman Voorhees compute and apply weight and balance data, procedures and techniques, the job description states. They determine fuel, personnel, cargo and emergency and special equipment weight and distribution to compute aircraft weight and balance and they prepare and verify load plans, direct cargo loading and unloading operations and inspect aircraft load to ensure hazardous cargo compliance and weight and balance status of aircraft.

To do their job both from home station and while deployed, boom operators have to maintain mandatory job knowledge in numerous areas, the job description states. They have to know electrical and mechanical principles applying to aircraft and related systems, flight theory, and aircraft electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems applying to in-flight refueling system.

They also have to know normal and emergency operation of aircraft refueling systems, flying directives, weight and balance factors, cargo tie-down techniques, minor in-flight maintenance, usage of personal equipment and oxygen, communication and aircraft emergency procedures and using and interpreting diagrams, loading charts, technical publications and flight manuals.

Airman Voorhees is deployed from the 349th Air Refueling Squadron at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The 349th ARS is part of the 22nd Operations Group of Air Mobility Command's 22nd Air Refueling Wing.

The 22nd ARW is one of only three "super tanker" KC-135 Stratotanker wings in the Air Force, according to the McConnell AFB Web site.

"Our primary mission is to provide global reach by conducting air refueling and airlift where and when needed," the Web site states.

(Master Sgt. William Greer, Air Force Combat Camera, contributed to this report.)