Aircraft
Airbus Enhances Safety for Boom and Drogue Refueling
Automatic refueling for boom receivers is slated for certification trials next year, while probe receivers are getting a new traffic light system.
Airbus conducted the first fully automatic air-to-air refueling of a fighter in early 2020, using a Republic of Singapore Air Force A330 MRTT refueling a Portuguese air force F-16. (Photo: Airbus)
Airbus conducted the first fully automatic air-to-air refueling of a fighter in early 2020, using a Republic of Singapore Air Force A330 MRTT refueling a Portuguese air force F-16. (Photo: Airbus)

Airbus has developed a new system for its A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) that enhances safety for receivers using the aircraft’s wing-mounted and fuselage hose-drogue units (HDUs). The system comprises a sensor that monitors the length of hose that is deployed from the HDU, and a circular LED light array. In the wing pods the array is mounted in the rear tip of the pod, easily visible to the receiver pilot.