Aviation 10

HMS Ocean Starts New Life

Former British helicopter carrier HMS

Ocean, now owned by the Brazilian

Navy, arrived at its home port of Rio de

Janeiro on August 25. Now called the

Atlantico, the vessel was purchased by

Brazil last December and was formally

decommissioned from the Royal Navy at

Devonport on March 27 this year. The

Atlantico was recommissioned in the UK

on June 29 and set sail for Brazil on August

1 via a stop in Lisbon, Portugal. Sea trials

were completed on August 22 when the

carrier received its  rst Brazilian Navy

helicopters. The vessel was approved for

aerial operations the following day.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Boeing’s

KC-46 tanker programme a Supplemental Type Certi cate (STC),

verifying that its refuelling and mission avionics systems meet its

requirements and marking the completion of KC-46 FAA certi cation.

To gain its STC, Boeing’s team completed a series of lab, ground

and  ight tests, which began in 2015. As part of the required  ight

trials, they validated the KC-46’s boom and drogue aerial refuelling

systems met the FAA’s criteria.

“Our Boeing/Air Force test team did an outstanding job

successfully leading us through all the requirements, and we

appreciate the FAA’s collaboration as well,” said Mike Gibbons,

Boeing KC-46A tanker vice president and program manager. “This

milestone is important in that it’s one of the last major hurdles in

advance of  rst delivery to the US Air Force.”

The STC is one of two required FAA airworthiness certi cations,

Boeing having gained an Amended Type Certi cate for its core 767-

2C aircraft con guration in December 2017.

While these authorisations cover most of the jet, not all military

functions and equipment can be signed off by the FAA. The USAF

also must grant a Military Type Certi cate (MTC), which is expected

in the coming months. Boeing’s team completed MTC  ight testing

• which included the tanker’s aerial refuelling, defensive and other
  military-speci c systems – in early July.
  Six of the tankers have supported various segments of STC and
  MTC testing. Overall they have completed 3,500  ight hours and
  offloaded more than three million pounds of fuel during  ights with
  aircraft including Harriers, F-16s, A-10s, KC-10s and KC-135s.
  The KC-46, derived from the commercial 767 airframe, is built in
  Boeing’s facility at Everett. The company is currently on contract for
  the  rst 34 of an expected 179 tankers for the USAF.
  When in service, the multirole KC-46 will refuel US, allied and
  coalition military aircraft using its boom and hose and drogue systems,
  but will also be able to take on fuel to extend its operational range.
  Its boom enables the tanker to transfer up to 1,200 US gal (4,
  lit) of fuel per minute, while the hose and drogue systems, located on
  the wings and centreline, facilitates refuelling probe-equipped aircraft
  at up to 400 US gal (1,514 lit) of fuel per minute.

A Boeing test KC-46 refuelling a USAF F-16 during the trials work. Boeing

FAA Certifi cation for

Boeing KC-46 Tanker

The Republic of Singapore Air Force

(RSAF) has taken delivery of its  rst Airbus

A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

The aircraft made its  rst official public

appearance on September 1, at the RSAF’s

50th anniversary parade at Tengah Air Base.

In addition to air-to-air refuelling,

the new-generation A330 provides the

RSAF with greater cargo and passenger

transport capabilities than previously. It

also enhances its ability to contribute to

international humanitarian assistance

and disaster relief, and peace support

operations. Singapore ordered six A

MRTTs in 2014.

Singapore Receives its First A330 MRTT

Singapore’s initial A330 MRTT, serial number

1762, in 50th anniversary markings. Airbus

MILITARY NEWS

10 Aviation News incorporating Jets October 2018