Boom uses steady hand to keep aircraft fighting

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Francesca Popp
  • U.S. Central Command Air Forces News Team
OVER IRAQ (AFPN) --  "It's more like trying to knock a melon off a post by pushing a 20-foot pole through a chain-link fence on a windy day."
 
Senior Airman Jered Danielson compared operating the boom at nearly 5 miles above Iraq to a video game, but there's more to it than just playing a game.

Airman Danielson, a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in-flight refueling journeyman, said passing fuel from the KC-135R Stratotanker to a receiver can be a daunting task. 

"(It's a challenge) having to know thousands of various procedures, facts and details about the KC-135, its systems, operations, limitations, air refueling and emergency procedures, and other technical details," he said. "You have to be sure to stay in the regulations and technical orders, studying them so you know your job inside and out."
 
Airman Danielson, who is more commonly known as a boom operator, said his job helps other people complete their mission throughout U.S. Central Command Air Forces area of responsibility. 

"Nothing happens in the AOR unless a tanker is there to give gas," he said. "Tankers extend the capability and range of all the aircraft we refuel. We fly hundreds of hours each week to ensure our forces get their gas." 

When Airman Danielson is not refueling aircraft, he's sitting in a seat on the flight deck filling out paperwork and "backing up the pilots on things like altitude, ATC clearances, etc." 

The last KC-135 Stratotanker came off the production line in 1963, and one of the Air Force's highest priorities is to recapitalize and replace this aged fleet of refuelers. But until then, the Airman, who is deployed from the 911th Air Refueling Squadron at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., remains focused on ensuring pilots are able to accomplish the mission in the current airframe.

"The boom operator is an invaluable crew member that ensures the safe operation of the KC-135. The boom offers a third set of eyes, and, as a qualified crew member, has as much responsibility in ensuring the safe completion of a mission as the two pilots," said Maj. Dan Malles, a 340th EARS flying crew member.

"(He) is our eyes in the back of the aircraft. (He tells) us where the receiver is and the receiver's position when refueling, as well as whether an unsafe situation is developing," Major Malles said.

It was the final fuel stop of the seven-hour sortie for the KC-135 crew. 

Airman Danielson crawls into the boom pod and lies flat on his stomach. He moves the chin rest to prop up his head and readies for his next move.

The 21-year-old senior airman moves a knob here, a lever there and works the control panel, slowly lowering and raising the boom into position. Then, he waits for his receiver.

On this particular day, Airman Danielson refueled seven F-16 Fighting Falcons from Cannon AFB, N.M., that are deployed to Southwest Asia. These fighters are only a few of the hundreds of aircraft the Bisbee, Ariz., native has kept flying during his three deployments.

As Airmen Danielson topped off the tank, the Falcon pilot came across the radio, "Thanks for all your work, and have a nice day."

The Airman won the video game. He successfully knocked the melon off the post, yet again.