Originally Posted by
vascodegama
OAP
The Rx were still talking to the pilots at the time! I would suggest that your concerns are out of place here.
Hi VASCO,
THE TYPHOON 5 PILOT reports that he gained visual with the tanker and all aircraft alongside,
began a visual join and switched across [from the join] to the boom frequency. During this process he
lost visual with the tanker as it entered cloud. He descended back to FL240 and ceased overtake
whilst maintaining 2.5nm radar trail. The pilot communicated this to the tanker on the boom frequency
which was acknowledged by the tanker crew, who stated they would commence a climb to FL270 in
Further,
Voyager crew consisted of military crew only and
comprised 2 pilots, the PF and PM, and a Mission Systems Officer (MSO). The PF task was to take
the receivers from the controlling agency on the ‘join frequency’, and bring them to the left wing, on
the ‘boom frequency’. The MSO’s task was then to cycle the receivers through the hoses and onto
the right wing, or to control the receivers should non-standard manoeuvering be required. The military
member concluded by stating that in this case there appeared to have been a break-down in
procedure whilst the tanker was climbing in intermittent IMC. Members also noted that although the
tanker organisation had taken a full part in the Occurrence Safety Investigation, it was disappointing
that military regulation had not been complied with and an Airprox DASOR had not been submitted.
Vasco, if you have different knowledge of the incident, we would all like to hear.
OAP