Fairchild Airman delivers fuel to OEF fight as deployed boom operator

Published Aug. 10, 2010
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Airman 1st Class Nicolas Inzana is a KC-135 Stratotanker in-flight refueling journeyman, or boom operator, deployed with the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan.

Airman Inzana is deployed from Air Mobility Command's 93rd Air Refueling Squadron, 92nd Air Refueling Wing, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. As a boom operator with the 22nd EARS, Airman Inzana supports air refueling operations for Operation Enduring Freedom -- mainly over Afghanistan.

According to the official Air Force job description for an in-flight refueling journeyman, Airmen like Airman Inzana are trained to perform in-flight refueling aircrew functions and activities according to flight manuals, checklists and Unites States Air Force publications.

As part of aircrew duties, boom operators like Airman Inzana 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 Inzana 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 shows. 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.

The Transit Center at Manas has four missions -- air refueling, airlift, onward movement of troops and humanitarian assistance, according to the 376th AEW web page. They do this with the help of 850 military members and 750 U.S. and host nation civilian employees and contractors. The 376th AEW owns, maintains and operates the Transit Center's KC-135s.