A Day in the Life of In-flight Refuelers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Candy Knight
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The day begins at 4 a.m. with a wake-up call from the aircraft commander telling him they’ve been alerted and need to report to the office at 5 a.m. 

After reporting, he completes his mission briefs, heads out to his plane and performs his pre-flight checks. 

After ensuring everything from life support equipment to maintenance items have been thoroughly checked, the pilot begins take-off procedures. The plane takes off and reaches its cruising altitude. As the B-1 Bomber approaches, he lowers the boom and prepares the equipment for refueling procedures. 

As the B-1 gets closer and closer, the countdown begins. “Forty feet to contact, 30 feet, 20 feet, 10 feet...” Then the magic word comes over the radio. “Contact” has been made and the airborne gas station attendant begins delivering the much needed fuel. 

Performing this in-flight refueling is the task of the 6th Air Refueling Squadron’s in-flight refuelers, most commonly known as boom operators. Boom operators are responsible for directing the receiver aircraft into air refueling position and operating in-flight air refueling controls while maintaining a safe and affective contact between tanker and receiver aircraft. 

They must also monitor the control panel for proper operation of equipment during air refueling and advise the receiving aircraft pilot of actions required to safely maintain position within the air-refueling area. 

“Becoming a boom operator was the best thing that could have happened to me,” said Senior Airman Stephen Wentz, 6th ARS boom operator. “The best part is the excitement I get from going all over the world, refueling different aircraft and delivering all types of cargo.” 

On any given day Airman Wentz, or any of his fellow boom operators, can find themselves refueling aircraft over the English Channel or delivering cargo to the troops in Southwest Asia. 

Not only do they refuel and deliver cargo, but boom operators must also ensure that adequate safety equipment and passenger comfort items are on board aircraft and instructs any and all passengers how to use emergency equipment and emergency procedures. 

“Whether it’s offloading fuel to other aircraft, loading or unloading cargo, handling passengers or simply backing up the pilots flying, no KC-10 mission is moved without the hard work and dedication of its outstanding boom operators,” said Capt. Karl Meyer, 6th ARS evaluator pilot. 

They also act as safety observer when their aircraft is being refueled. 

“Many people think that after we refuel other aircraft, we just sit down and go to sleep, but we do a lot more to help the mission be successful,” said Airman Wentz. 

To ensure the missions they perform are completed safely, boom operators go through constant training including quarterly simulator training and yearly evaluations on cargo loading and air refueling procedures. 

In addition to their own training, boom operators must also train new in-flight refuelers. 

“As an instructor, when I’m training a new student and I see them finally understand what is being said or done, I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment,” said Tech. Sgt. Paul Piazza, 6th ARS boom operator instructor. 

Airman Wentz said that becoming an instructor has made his job even more fun. 

“Having a direct impact on new boom operators and watching them grow is just another enjoyable part of my job,” he said. 

According to Airman Wentz, whether it is performing a local refueling mission or carrying passengers and cargo across the world, every day offers a different and exciting challenge. 

“Knowing that I am doing my part to complete the 6th ARS and Travis’ mission and refueling different aircraft in different parts of the world is so much fun,” he said.