News>Tanker's first flight over top of the world marks new era in efficiency
Photos
Maj. Jeff Schrum pilots a KC-135 Stratotanker over the Arctic Circle and the North Pole on June 21, 2011, during a historic mission from the U.S. to Kyrgyzstan. The tanker crew flew through Russian air space as part of an “iron swap” mission along a new, more efficient route from Moses Lake, Wash., to the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Major Schrum is assigned to the 92nd Air Refueling Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Kathleen Ferrero)
KC-135 pilots accomplish pre-flight checklist tasks at Moses Lake, Wash., prior to takeoff on a historic Arctic over-flight mission June 21, 2011, from Washington State to the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Pictured here are (clockwise from top left) Maj. Jeff Schrum, 1st Lt. Remington Barnes and Lt. Col. Thorne Tibbett. The Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., tanker crew flew over the North Pole for the first time June 21-22, 2011, as part of an “iron swap” mission along a new, more efficient route from Moses Lake, Wash., to Kyrgyzstan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Kathleen Ferrero)
Adjusting straps to secure a drogue to the cargo bay of a KC-135 Stratotanker, Staff Sgt. Randy Miller helps prepare the plane at Moses Lake, Wash., for a historic mission over the Arctic Circle and through Russian airspace from Washington State to the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, June 21, 2011. Sergeant Miller is a boom operator assigned to the 92nd Air Refueling Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The tanker crew flew over the North Pole for the first time June 21-22, 2011, as part of an “iron swap” mission along a new, more efficient route from Washington State to Kyrgyzstan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Kathleen Ferrero)
KC-135 Stratotanker pilots from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., go over mission plans for a historic polar over-flight mission from Washington State to Kyrgyzstan on June 21, 2011. Pictured here are (from left) Capt. Jared Gude, of the 92nd Air Refueling Squadron; Lt. Col. Thorne Tibbitts, of the 141st Aircraft Maintenance Generation Squadron; and Maj. Jeff Schrum, of the 92nd ARS. The KC-135 Stratotanker flew over the Arctic Circle and the North Pole for the first time June 21-22 as part of an “iron swap” mission along a new, more efficient route from Moses Lake, Wash., to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Kathleen Ferrero)
by Capt. Kathleen Ferrero
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
6/27/2011 - TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) -- The U.S. Air Force has gone to the ends of the earth to support operations in Afghanistan.
A KC-135 Stratotanker flew north until it started flying south June 21 an 22, cutting a new pathway over the Arctic Circle and the North Pole between Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., and the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. It was the first time an Air Force air refueling tanker has ever flown this route.
The mission followed another historic flight that took place June 5 and 6 when a C-5M Super Galaxy traversed the Arctic Circle to fly the first direct-delivery airlift mission from Dover AFB, Del., to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
A 2009 U.S.-Russia transit agreement helped make the new Arctic routes possible, according to U.S. Transportation Command officials. The KC-135 flight over the North Pole alone saved the Air Force approximately 4.5 hours and $54,000.
"These routes give us interesting new options and open new corridors," said Maj. Chris Fuller, a plans chief at the 618th Air and Space Operations Center at Scott AFB, Ill.
The Fairchild tanker crew flew to Manas, a key air refueling base for Afghanistan operations, as part of an "iron swap" to deploy the aircraft and four Airmen here. Air Force aircrews can use Russian air space for "iron swaps," as well as to transport passengers and cargo, Major Fuller said.
Typically, KC-135 crews doing tanker swaps from Fairchild fly to England, stay the night and fly to Kyrgyzstan the next day. By circumventing England, the KC-135 polar over-flight crew saved two days of mandatory crew rest, including their anticipated return from Manas. The two days were added to their deployment time at Manas, said 1st Lt. Remington Barnes, a 92nd Air Refueling Squadron pilot from Fairchild AFB.
While a few hours and thousands of dollars may not seem like much, projected savings could be remarkable, officials said. The Air Force is the DOD's largest fuel customer, and Air Mobility Command consumes approximately 60 percent of the Air Force's fuel. Fuel savings such as those accrued by more direct routes "can be used to recapitalize the aging fleet as well as provide for incentives that support more ideas to improve fuel efficiency," said Lt. Col. Marc Gildner from the AMC Fuel Efficiency Office.
With budget constraints, the ability to back incentives that inspire efficiency is invaluable.
As Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton said during a 2010 visit to AMC, fuel savings can help AMC "reinvest those dollars in things that make the mobility air forces as highly effective as possible."
New routes like the KC-135 polar over-flight also help AMC aircrews more effectively support combatant commanders.
Such shifting of resources comes at a crucial period when tankers are in higher demand than ever, statistics show. For example, when NATO operations in Libya began, KC-135s provided refueling support to the aircraft enforcing the no-fly zone. Meanwhile, the need for tankers in Afghanistan didn't let up, explained Maj. Jeff Schrum, the aircraft commander for KC-135 polar over-flight mission.
Air refueling crews have continually set records since Sept. 11, 2001.
"Our tanker crews underwrite America's ability to project power rapidly," said Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., the AMC commander. "They provide the bridge for global reach, enabling us to provide the right effects to the right place at the right time."
The Arctic over-flight KC-135 had a combined aircrew of active duty and Air National Guard Airmen. In addition to Major Schrum and Lieutenant Barnes, the mission was completed by Lt. Col. Thorne Tibbitts; Capt. Jared Gude; Staff Sgt. Randy Miller; Staff Sgt. Jonathon Tolbert; Senior Airman Justin Holbrook; and Senior Airman Timothy Slagle.
The flight, made possible by close diplomatic cooperation and months of operational planning, could open doors for future efficiencies as well as strengthen global partnerships.
Comments
6/30/2011 8:07:17 PM ET @kradude Home: actually what the article is saying is that when going through England first, it puts 2 extra days on the deployment but by going this new route it's not taking those 2 extra days...
just a wife, Washington
6/28/2011 12:59:43 PM ET The two days were added to their deployment time at Manas -- let's not get our boys home sooner; let's find a way to keep them away longer.
kradude, Home
6/28/2011 8:17:37 AM ET I was a KC-135 Crew Chief during Viet-Nam 72-77 and it is GREAT to hear the KC-135 is still flying and serving a vital roll. Go Air Force and Go Boeing.
