305th AMW boomers bloom Published Aug. 29, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Sean M. Crowe Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Boom operators, also known as "booms" or "boomers," are entrusted with operating the boom that refuels multi-million-dollar aircraft. A slip of the wrist could possibly result in dire consequences, which makes their extreme training integral to their careers. Flight Safety Services Corporation is a contracted organization at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst responsible for training boom operators through in-depth classes, training simulators and jet familiarizations. Flight Safety is the first of three training phases the booms go through once arriving here before they are fully qualified as boom operators. This portion is not taught on the aircraft and is instead in a classroom or simulated environment. KC-10 Extender booms begin their training at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, where they attend an aircrew fundamentals course and train in Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape before arriving at their assigned installations. The booms enroll in the first portion of their training, Flight Safety, upon arrival. The majority of Flight Safety comprises classes that teach the booms refueling procedures. The instructors build on the students' existing knowledge of the job's technical aspects including performing pre- and post-flight checks, using the air refueling operations station on the jet, refueling different aircraft and calculating weight capacities. The KC-10 can transport up to 75 people and nearly 170,000 pounds of cargo a distance of about 4,400 miles unrefueled, according to the U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender fact sheet. Booms must be able to calculate the weight of a KC-10 before take-off as not to exceed maximum takeoff weight. "I didn't realize how important and precise we have to be when loading cargo," said Staff Sgt. Patrick Murray, 2nd Air Refueling Squadron boom operator. "It was a very enlightening portion of Flight Safety." The KC-10 has three large fuel tanks under the cargo floor, one under the forward lower cargo compartment, one in the center wing area and one under the rear compartment in addition to three main wing fuel tanks. The capacity of the six tanks carries more than 356,000 pounds of fuel. Booms must be able to calculate maximum fuel capacity given the weight of the cargo and passengers. Some other items taught in class are safety measures. The students must know what procedures they and their passengers should take in the event of a flight mishap or what to do if refueling goes awry. "We teach crew resource management to maximize aircrew potential, mitigate risks and reduce aircraft mishaps," said Bob Culbertson, Flight Safety instructor. Flight Safety incorporates the boom operators' basic knowledge of refueling with practical application. Training simulators provide an outlet for booms to practice refueling without the consequences of making mistakes during actual air refueling. Students practice refueling at different altitudes, speeds and times of day to prepare for real life missions. "I've done several simulations and I get more comfortable with refueling every time," said Airman Dylan Dahl, 2nd ARS boom operator. "The simulators feel so real. It's allowed me to refuel during the day and night in low and high visibility conditions." Booms can perform more than 50 contacts between the boom and a fuel receptacle during one refueling session in the simulator. Booms also visit the flightline to get a hands-on familiarization with the equipment they will be working with. They go through items including communications equipment, aircrew equipment and the ARO station. "Getting on the KC-10 is basically a recap of what they've already learned," said Culbertson. "We ensure they know where to find everything on the jet and how to use a boom's main systems." The booms finish Flight Safety after two months and move on to the Flying Training Unit. "The most important thing I took away from Flight Safety was the ARO pre-flight check and emergency procedures," said Dahl. "Preparation and planning play a big role in flying. I feel confident that I'm ready to fly with everything I've learned in Flight Safety." (Editor's note: This is the first article in a three-part series about boom operator training.)