Definitions - P-5570071

LOW-LEVEL AND TACTICAL FORMATION

CHAPTER THREE

be playing the role of the receiver. All aerial refueling simulation training shall be conducted in

VMC and aircraft shall remain well clear of clouds. VMC rendezvous require 5 NM visibility.

Definitions

Air Refueling Initial Point (ARIP)-A point established prior to the ARCP. This point is part of

the Air Refueling (AR) track and aids in identifying the receiver and determining their heading.

Receivers should be at the ARIP prior to ARCT and inbound to the ARCP. This will assist in

placing both aircraft in a position for rendezvous at the ARCP. Receiver aircraft shall be

established at the joinup altitude at the ARIP.

Air Refueling Control Point (ARCP)-The planned point where the tanker arrives abeam the

receiver and assumes formation lead.

Air Refueling Control Time (ARCT)-A specified time coordinated between the tanker and

receiver(s). The receiver(s) will arrive at the ARCP at the ARCT or earlier and the tanker will

arrive at the ARCP at the ARCT or later. An effort should be made to arrive at the ARCP within

2 minutes of the ARCT.

Rendezvous

The tanker will normally accomplish all required maneuvering during rendezvous with the

exception of the tanker orbit rendezvous. A minimum vertical separation of 1000 feet shall be

maintained between the tanker and receiver during rendezvous until positive visual contact has

been established. Also, the tanker and receiver(s) shall not close within 1 NM of each other until

positive visual contact has been established. The aircraft conducting the rendezvous, normally

the tanker, is responsible for this separation. The altimeter setting will be the nearest station

altimeter. Minimum visibility for a VMC rendezvous is 5 NM. After initial radio contact has

been established between the tanker and receiver, the tanker will assume radio control of the

rendezvous. Refueling airspeed will typically be 170 KIAS. The different types of rendezvous

that will be practiced in this syllabus are: 1) Strategic Tanker Modified Point Parallel, 2)

Tactical Tanker Head-On Offset (low speed), 3) Tanker Orbit (VMC only), and 4) Enroute

(overtaking). These procedures are somewhat modified from what you will be accomplishing in

the MV-22 due to TC-12 restrictions, but are very similar.

Tactical Tanker Head-On Offset Rendezvous (Low Speed)

During this rendezvous, the receiver(s) will maintain 1000 feet below the refueling altitude while

inbound from the ARIP to the ARCP at 150 KIAS. The tanker will be at refueling altitude at

170 KIAS and will roll in directly over, or slightly offset from, the lead receiver. The receiver(s)

will normally be in a left echelon and stepped down. When the tanker is in sight and gives the

clearance, the receiver formation will climb/close to the observation position (45 bearing off of

tanker, 200 feet aft and 200 feet out) and accelerate to 170 KIAS. Prior to join up, the tanker

airspeed will be 210 KIAS and the receiver's airspeed will be 150 KIAS outside the ARCP. The

tanker approaches the receiver(s) on the reciprocal of the air refueling (AR) track with an

approximate 3 NM offset from the track. Normally, the tanker will plan to make a left, standard

TACTICAL/AERIAL REFUELING PROCEDURES

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