Aerial Refuelling
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Oz
Age: 68
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We have a procedure called MARSA - military authority assumes responsibility for separation. We maintain separation between the tanker and the F18 formation, providing whatever clearances, vectoring, etc, is required to get them together - usually none, they can do it themselves. When they are ready to forgo the civil separation standard, they report going MARSA and do their own thing. Once they have completed the job and are in positions or levels that we can once again accept as a civil separation standard, MARSA is cancelled and normal civil separation resumed.
That's the procedure in civil controlled airspace. Alternatively the RAAF can declare temporary blocks of restricted airspace or even temporary blocks of moving restricted airspace, but I've never seen the latter.
That's the procedure in civil controlled airspace. Alternatively the RAAF can declare temporary blocks of restricted airspace or even temporary blocks of moving restricted airspace, but I've never seen the latter.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wales
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was thinking how the conversation would go between the aircraft and the ATC, and what kinds of things would have to be discussed, as I assume some sort of weather update would be required incase the planes ran into turbulance etc.
More than just an ATCO
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Up someone's nose
Age: 75
Posts: 1,768
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Over Benelux and Germany they would normally be working a Military radar unit, the flight plan would have the details of their flight into a tow-line, once there the chicks close in and feed.
ATC not really involved.
ATC not really involved.
Last edited by Lon More; 8th Nov 2010 at 17:44. Reason: caveat added
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hants
Posts: 2,295
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Au contraire... In the UK, London and Scottish Mil ATC very much involved depending on where the tow-line is.
It was (and probably still is) part of the ARTS (Military Area Radar Training School course) run by the RAF and RN at Shawbury.
It was (and probably still is) part of the ARTS (Military Area Radar Training School course) run by the RAF and RN at Shawbury.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Middle East
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Par for the course in the Middle East, in fact tanker traffic makes up almost 20% of the traffic and 95% of the emergencies!!! Yip, they are getting old!
Operations with the tankers are pretty straight forward although sometimes the place they choose to tank is messy so we shove them along a bit, typically to the next FIR!
Operations with the tankers are pretty straight forward although sometimes the place they choose to tank is messy so we shove them along a bit, typically to the next FIR!
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 18,579
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
KirjE- the weather side of it would be well briefed and I'm sure the Mil ATC would forward any sig weather reports. As folk are saying, it depends where the refuelling is taking place - it could be on a Notamed 'towline' or on a straight line 'en-route' ferry type trip. In the first case mostly under Mil ATC, for the second, presumably mostly in an altitude block under whichever control is appropriate. There are enough bodies in most large tankers to cover several R/T channels.
Beady Eye
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BD
