Certification moves Pegasus tanker closer to delivery
Issues could push KC-46A’s scheduled October arrival into 2019
Boeing announced this week it has completed the second of two needed parts of flight certification for the KC-46A Pegasus, a nextgeneration aircraft tanker.
Officials said six prototypes it already has built have completed all required tests needed for the Supplemental Type Certificate that puts approval on the aircraft's military systems transforming the 767-2C into a tanker.
A final piece of that testing, officials said, involved a successful refueling/communications flight with a C-17 Globemaster III.
“This is a huge milestone for the program and moves us closer to first KC-46 delivery,” stated Mike Gibbons, Boeing KC46A tanker vice president and program manager, in a release announcing the achievement.
“We’ve got the best of Boeing working together to ensure the Air Force is getting a game-changing tanker with unmatched capabilities.”
Testing systems, capabilities
As part of supplemental testing, a Boeing/U.S. Air Force team had to validate the aircraft's boom and drogue systems for aerial refueling with multiple receiver aircraft were ready for service.
The team also had to demonstrate the KC-46 could take on fuel from KC-135, KC-10 and other KC-46 tankers, conduct operations at night and during the day, and that its defensive systems and avionics performed acceptably.
The program's six prototypes so far have completed 2,900 flight hours and made more than 2,500 “contacts” during refueling flights with F-16, F/A-18, AV-8B, C-17, A-10, KC-10 and KC-46 aircraft.
Officials said other aircraft involved in the tests flew out of Nellis and Edwards Air Force bases.
A KC-46A aircraft flew out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River to test its centerline drogue system, officials said.
“This was truly a great team effort,” Jeanette Croppi, the test program manager, stated in the release.
Boeing previously received an Amended Type Certificate from the FAA for its core 767-2C configuration in December 2017. The 767-2C is a modified version of the company’s commercial 767 with revised structure, wiring and plumbing.
The KC-46A is the planned replacement for the Boeing-made KC-135 Stratotanker, which was the U.S. Air Force's first jet-powered tanker and has served in that role for more than half a century.
At Altus and Tinker
Its introduction into the Air Force's fleet is meaningful to Oklahomans. The Air Force has built out space and is activating a squadron to train crews to operate the Pegasus at Altus Air Force Base.
In Oklahoma City, meanwhile, work continues to build a new maintenance complex for the aircraft at Tinker Air Force Base.
Boeing is building KC-46 aircraft at its plant in Everett, Washington. The manufacturer is under a contract to deliver the first 18 KC-46As and associated air refueling pods to the Air Force by October as part of a deal to deliver 34 of an expected 179 aircraft to the service, overall.
But the Air Force's top civilian leader told the Senate Armed Services Committee in a hearing earlier this week her agency is meeting with Boeing to discuss the likelihood that delivery could slip into 2019.
"We have been meeting with Boeing and had additional meetings last week to get an agreement on a schedule," Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told committee members. "The Air Force believes the schedule that Boeing has is overly ambitious.
"We would like to get an agreement on that delivery date and drive to it," Wilson said.
Sen. Jim Inhofe, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, noted the KC-46A is important to him, and while he noted there had been delays, he said President Donald Trump's budget to Congress anticipates 15 KC46As will come on board in the 2019 federal fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
He asked both Wilson and the Air Force's top general, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, whether that would meet their initial needs.
"That's a desirable number," Wilson said.
A Boeing spokesman, meanwhile, emailed a statement to The Oklahoman on Friday that states the manufacturer remains confident it can meet whatever delivery schedule it and the Air Force agree upon as talks continue.
“There is no greater priority at Boeing right now than the delivery of the KC-46. We are discussing dates with the Air Force and working with them to deliver the first aircraft as soon as possible,” wrote Chick Ramey, Boeing’s communications manager for the KC-46 program.