Spotlight Award: KC-135R Aircrew

by The Mobility Forum
AMC

11/20/2014 - Winter 2014 -- While deployed for the 906th Air Refueling Squadron in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and peacekeeping mission over Iraq, Capt Todd Walker, Capt Christopher Miller, and SSgt Jarrett Crawford from 375 Air Mobility Wing, Scott AFB who were associated with 126 Air Refueling Wing, Scott AFB, encountered multiple ground and in-flight challenges throughout their tour. Despite the challenges, the crew completed 24 combat and combat support missions spanning 174 hours. They safely offloaded 1.2 million pounds of JP-8 to 68 Coalition Close Air Support and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance aircraft, which directly supported 11 troops-in-contact events, two shows of force, and five priority targets. Their dedication to the mission and commitment to the troops in the air and on the ground was vital to America's objectives in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The expeditious and remarkable actions of the crew during one particular mission saved a receiver pilot from bailing out when the pilot experienced an in-flight emergency. The incident occurred while conducting night refueling of an A-10 over Afghanistan. The receiver had a negative contact and was subsequently disconnected by the boom operator. The receiver pilot then noticed what appeared to be excessive fluid spraying on the canopy from the A-10's receptacle area, thus causing the receiver to move away from the tanker to troubleshoot the malfunction. Within a short period of time, the A-10 pilot reported that visibility had declined to zero due to hydraulic fluid leaking over the entire windshield. Moments later, the receiver pilot discovered a complete loss of the right hydraulic system, followed by the illumination of the right side hydraulic reservoir warning light. Due to the complete lack of visibility, the receiver pilot declared an emergency and requested an immediate return to Bagram AB to expedite the safe recovery of the aircraft.

Realizing the dire situation, the tanker crew displayed great crew resource management by dividing duties in order to assist the crippled A-10. Capt Walker made a split-second decision to take control of the situation and instructed the A-10 pilot to follow the tanker back to Bagram AB. Capt Miller began relaying the emergency aircraft's information to ATC. His action allowed the receiver pilot to focus on maintaining aircraft control throughout the emergency, ultimately clearing the way for both aircraft to fly safely through congested combat airspace. In an effort to aid the impaired receiver, SSgt Crawford turned the nacelle and aerial refueling floodlight to full bright and remained in the boom pod, keeping visual contact in order to guide the A-10 safely back to base.

The A-10 pilot notified the tanker crew that he lost all VFR navigation capability and that he relied solely on them to clear the airspace. The pilot added that without the extraordinary actions of the crew, he most likely would have ejected from the aircraft. After the A-10 was assured a safe recovery and was able to land, the KC-135R departed Bagram airspace and continued with the next combat tasking in support of CFACC objectives, thereby maintaining seamless combat capabilities in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility.