Boeing has received certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its KC-46 tanker. Earlier this month, the FAA approved the aerospace manufacturing company’s application for a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). This means that Boeing can now take the next step to prepare the KC-46 tanker for the market.
What is the KC-46 exactly? Although it looks like a standard Boeing 767 from afar — they both use the same frame — the KC-46 isn’t your ordinarily commercial airliner. Rather, it’s designed to refuel other aircraft in midair. Boeing is developing the KC-46 for use in the military. According to Boeing, the new tanker will be able to refuel U.S. military aircraft as well as the aircraft of its allies.
One of the most impressive features of the KC-46 tanker, however, is its storage capacity. Thanks to its boom and drogue system, it’s capable of transferring a maximum of 1,200 gallons of fuel per minute. For smaller aircraft, the KC-46 can transfer fuel at about 400 gallons per minute. Either way, it’s incredibly fast and efficient at refueling, making it a powerful asset in Boeing’s fleet of inventory.
With the KC-46 having received FAA certification, Boeing can proceed to refine the tanker so that it can prepare it to sell on the market. By achieving FAA certification was no easy feat. Boeing’s team of engineers had to perform a variety of tests, including both in-the-lab and in-the-air tests, dating as far back as 2015. Among these tests was the validation of the KC-46’s boom and drogue system. This is the system of components that’s responsible for the tanker’s refueling process, making it essential to the FAA’s certification process.
“Our Boeing/Air Force test team did an outstanding job successfully leading us through all the requirements, and we appreciate the FAA’s collaboration as well,” said Mike Gibbons, Boeing KC-46A tanker vice president and program manager. “This milestone is important in that it is one of the last major hurdles in advance of first delivery to the U.S. Air Force.”
This isn’t the only certification that the KC-46 has received from the FAA. Last year, Boeing received an Amended Type Certificate for the tanker. However, it must still obtain certification for certain military applications, such as a Military Type Certification (MTC).
It’s unknown when Boeing will be ready to sell the KC-46. The aerospace company currently has an order of 179 units to produce for the U.S. Air Force.
