Air Force KC-46 Flies Refueling Mission Without Copilot

The recent reduced-crew exercise aimed to validate KC-46 operations in certain high-end combat scenarios, the service said.

Kimberly Johnson

Monday, October 31, 2022 at 01:25 PM ET

Verified

The October 25 flight of two KC-46 sorties flown without a copilot occurred inside military test airspace. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force successfully conducted a KC-46A Pegasus refueling mission with a reduced crew, consisting of only a pilot and a boom operator, to validate operational procedures for high-end combat scenarios.
This initiative addresses a critical operational need for increased mission tempo, enabling rapid aircraft launches against threats and extending long-range operations with smaller crews.
The move to reduced-crew operations is part of a broader Air Force strategy to combat pilot shortages and leverage new technologies for future operational readiness.
Similar tests are underway for other aircraft, including single-pilot C-130J Hercules flights with AI assistance and fully autonomous UH-60A Black Hawk operations without any onboard crew.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The U.S. Air Force recently conducted a refueling mission in a KC-46A Pegasus with only a pilot and boom operator—and without a co-pilot—in a test the service said validates operational procedures in certain high-end combat scenarios.

The October 25 flight of two KC-46 sorties flown without a copilot occurred inside military test airspace. The first sortie flew the pattern, while the second completed a refueling mission, including an aerial refueling rendezvous, as well as an air refueling on-load and offload, the Air Force said.