Threat Axis

While the Pentagon takes its sweet time to determine what is going to be done with the US Air Force tanker program – the US Navy has gone out and contracted with a private firm to provide aerial refueling for Navy training activities.

Omega Air Refueling operates 3 aircraft (two Boeing 707′s and one DC-10) in support of their contract with the government. This contract is just the flying hours of the aircraft. The responsible party (i.e. squadron) for the receiving aircraft is responsible for the cost of the actual fuel (and can use their government credit card – just as if they were buying fuel during a cross-country or TDY).

These tankers are all equipped for probe and drogue refueling – so they can refuel most (US Navy/Marine Corps & foreign) aircraft …. except the US Air Force.

Using the probe and drogue method – puts the responsibility for the refueling connection in the hands of the receiving aircraft and allows Omega to automate the deployment of the refueling drogue. This automation is one of the reasons that Omega’s cost of a gallon of fuel is $7 – while a DSB study two years ago estimated the cost of a gallon of fuel from a US Air Force tanker at $17.50.

Depending on how much longer the KC-135 replacement drags out – maybe we will see contractor’s providing refueling to the Air Force as well.