Edition C Version 1 NOVEMBER 2013 - Joint Air Power ...

1 NATO STANDARD. AIR-TO-AIR REFUELLING. ATP-56. Edition C Version 1. NOVEMBER 2013 . NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION. ALLIED TACTICAL PUBLICATION. Published by the NATO STANDARDIZATION AGENCY (NSA). NATO/OTAN. INTENTIONALLY BLANK. NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION. NATO STANDARDIZATION AGENCY (NSA). NATO LETTER OF PROMULGATION. 18 NOVEMBER 2013 . 1. The enclosed Allied Tactical Publication Edition C Version 1, Air-to-Air Refuelling has been approved by the nations in the MCASB, is promulgated herewith. The agreement of nations to use this publication is recorded in STANAG 3971 . 2. Edition C Version 1 is effective upon receipt.

2 3. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used commercially, adapted, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. With the exception of commercial sales, this does not apply to member nations and Partnership for Peace countries, or NATO commands and bodies. 4. This publication shall be handled in accordance with C-M(2002)60. I. Dr. Cih ngir AKSI/., UR Civ Director, NATO s{~ndardization Agency INTENTIONALLY BLANK. RESERVED FOR NATIONAL LETTER OF PROMULGATION. I Edition C Version 1.}

3 INTENTIONALLY BLANK. II Edition C Version 1. RECORD OF RESERVATIONS. CHAPTER RECORD OF RESERVATIONS BY NATIONS. General USA. Note: The reservations listed on this page include only those that were recorded at time of promulgation and may not be complete. Refer to the NATO Standardization Document Database for the complete list of existing reservations. III Edition C Version 1. INTENTIONALLY BLANK. IV Edition C Version 1. RECORD OF SPECIFIC RESERVATIONS. NATION SPECIFIC RESERVATIONS. USA , page 1-2 and 1-3: Definitions for WARNING and CAUTION are exactly the same. The USA will use the following as the definition for CAUTION: AN OPERATING OR.

4 MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE, PRACTICE, OR CONDITION. THAT MAY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT AND/OR. EQUIPMENT. Note: The reservations listed on this page include only those that were recorded at time of promulgation and may not be complete. Refer to the NATO Standardization Document Database for the complete list of existing reservations. V Edition C Version 1. INTENTIONALLY BLANK. VI Edition C Version 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page No. PRELIMINARIES. Cover NSA Letter of Promulgation National Letters of Promulgation Page I. Record of Changes Page III. Record of Reservations Page V. Record of Specific Reservations Page VII.

5 Table of Contents Page IX. CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROCEDURES. SECTION I INTRODUCTION. Origin 1-1. Aim 1-1. Scope 1-1. Applicability of Limitations 1-1. Application 1-2. Definitions, Terms and Phraseology 1-2. Additional Information 1-3. AAR Objectives 1-3. Combined AAR Operations 1-4. ANNEX 1A - LEXICON. Lexicon Acronyms and Abbreviations 1A-1. Lexicon Terms and Definitions 1A-2. SECTION II - EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND PRINCIPLES. Peacetime 1-5. Combat Operations 1-10. Tasking 1-10. SECTION III - REFUELLING EQUIPMENT. Introduction 1-11. Probe and Drogue 1-11. Boom 1-14. Boom Drogue Adapter 1-15. Fuel Flow Rates and Pressures 1-15.

6 Tanker Reference Markings 1-15. Tanker Lighting 1-15. IX Edition C Version 1. CHAPTER 2 FIXED WING PROCEDURES. SECTION I RENDEZVOUS PROCEDURES. Introduction 2-1. General Procedures 2-1. Visual Acquisition of Tanker 2-4. Rendezvous Overrun 2-4. Joining - Probe and Drogue Tankers 2-5. Refuelling Probe and Drogue 2-8. Joining Boom 2-12. Refuelling Boom Tankers 2-12. Refuelling Boom Drogue Adaptor (BDA) 2-17. Leaving 2-18. Types of RV 2-18. Equipment Unserviceabilities 2-19. ANNEX 2A - RV ALPHA (ANCHOR RV). Introduction 2A-1. Procedure 2A-1. Control 2A-2. Anchor Pattern 2A-2. Alternate Anchor Pattern 2A-3. ANNEX 2B RV BRAVO.

7 Introduction 2B-1. Procedure 2B-1. Control 2B-3. ANNEX 2C RV CHARLIE. Introduction 2C-1. Procedure 2C-1. Control 2C-3. ANNEX 2D - RV DELTA (POINT PARALLEL). Introduction 2D-1. Procedure 2D-1. Overtake RV Delta (Point Parallel) 2D-7. Modified RV Delta (Point Parallel) 2D-8. ANNEX 2E - RV ECHO (TIMING). Introduction 2E-1. Procedure 2E-1. Aids Employed to RV 2E-2. ANNEX 2F - RV FOXTROT (SEQUENCED). Introduction 2F-1. Accompanied Departure / Buddy Climb 2F-1. Accompanied Departure / Buddy Climb - Planning Considerations 2F-1. Accompanied Departure / Buddy Climb - Implementation 2F-2. Tailchase Departure 2F-2. Tailchase Departure - Planning Considerations 2F-2.

8 X Edition C Version 1. Tailchase Departure Establishing ARIP 2F-2. Tailchase Departure Implementation 2F-2. Receivers Depart Before Tanker 2F-3. ANNEX 2G - RV GOLF (EN ROUTE). Introduction 2G-1. Basic Procedure 2G-1. Variations in EMCON 2 to Basic Procedure 2G-1. Specific Procedure in EMCON 4 2G-2. SECTION II FORMATION PROCEDURES. Introduction 2-20. Flight Safety 2-20. Formation Control 2-20. Wingman/Receiver Responsibilities 2-20. Airspeeds and Altitudes 2-20. Weather/Visibility 2-20. Single Tanker Formations 2-21. Detailed Formation Procedures 2-22. ANNEX 2H - MULTI-TANKER FORMATION PROCEDURES. Multi-Tanker Formation - Echelon Procedures 2H-1.

9 Formation in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) 2H-2. Formation in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) - Standard Separated Formation 2H-3. Tanker Lead Change 2H-4. Multi-Tanker Formation Procedures 2H-5. ANNEX 2I - FORCE EXTENSION PROCEDURES. AAR Deployments (Force Extension) 2I-1. Use of AAR for Force Extension 2I-1. Force Extension Procedures 2I-1. ANNEX 2J - TANKER SNAKE/FORMATION CLIMB GUIDE 2J-1. ANNEX 2K - AAR FORMATION PROCEDURES HEAVY AIRCRAFT. AAR Formation Procedures Heavy Aircraft 2K-1. AAR Formation Procedures To Be Used By USAF Heavy Receivers 2K-3. ANNEX 2L - RECEIVER STATION KEEPING EQUIPMENT (SKE) - AAR.

10 PROCEDURES. Introduction 2L-1. Pre-Flight Briefing 2L-1. Formation Size and Dimensions 2L-1. Rendezvous 2L-1. Positive Separation 2L-2. Unplanned Turns 2L-2. Separation Criteria 2L-2. Turns Greater than 90 Degrees 2L-2. Formation Irregularities 2L-3. Tanker Echelon 2L-3. XI Edition C Version 1. Conditions for 180 Degree Turns On Track 2L-3. Formation Post Roll-Out 2L-3. Post SKE AAR 2L-4. Breakaway 2L-4. Typical SKE Formations 2L-4. ANNEX 2M - QUICK FLOW PROCEDURES. Quick Flow Procedure (QF) (Boom Only) 2M-1. ANNEX 2N - KC-130 AAR FORMATION PROCEDURES. Introduction 2N-1. Multi-Tanker Rendezvous Procedures 2N-2.