Omega Aerial Refueling Services
Omega Aerial Refueling Services is an American aviation company that provides aerial refueling services for military customers.
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| Founded | 1984 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating bases | San Antonio International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 5 | ||||||
| Headquarters | San Antonio, Texas, US | ||||||
| Website | omegaairrefueling | ||||||
History
Omega developed the first commercial aerial refueling aircraft in 1999, and has provided aerial refueling services under contract to the United States Navy since 2001.[1] The company has also been engaged to support Royal Australian Air Force training exercises due to delays in delivery of KC-30A tankers.[2][3] In addition, Omega Air Refueling states it has been contracted to support deployments by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force.[1]
In October 2011, the company took delivery of three additional Boeing 707-338Cs from the Royal Australian Air Force.[4]
On April 22, 2015, one of Omega's KC-707s refuelled a Northrop Grumman X-47B. The US Navy told the media this was the first time an unmanned aerial vehicle had been refuelled in flight.[5]
In November 2019, it was announced that two KDC-10 Tankers from the Royal Netherlands Air Force would be acquired and as such additional capacity would be added, including 'boom capability' in addition to the existing 'hose and drogue' of the existing fleet. The aircraft were bought in 1995 by the RNLAF from Martinair as civilian DC-10 passenger airliners. The planes were converted to tanker aircraft. Because the planes were getting older and the RNLAF bought two A330 MRTT from Airbus, they sold their older tankers to Omega Air Refueling.
The first of the two tankers that were sold, T-264 Prins Bernard, departed on Monday, November 4, 2019, from Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands.[6]
Fleet
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As of October 2023, Omega Aerial Refueling Services operates the following aircraft:
| Aircraft | In service |
Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing KC-707-338C | 2 | — | N707MQ & N707GF |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30CF | 2 | — | N235UL & N264DE |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 | 1 | — | N974VV |
| Total | 5 | — |
Omega currently operates 2 Boeing 707-338C's (N707MQ and N707GF) and 1 McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 (N974VV), with 2 more DC-10-30CF's currently undergoing conversion (N235UL and N264DE).[7][8]
Accidents and incidents
- On May 18, 2011, Omega Aerial Refueling Services Flight 70, a KC-707 tanker registered as N707AR, was destroyed after it crashed on takeoff from Naval Base Ventura County in California. All three crew members survived.[9]
References
- "Our Story". Omega Aerial Refueling Services. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- "Airbus misses RAAF KC-30 MRTT delivery deadline". Australian Aviation. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- "US Military Contracts for Private Aerial Refueling Services". Defense Industry Daily. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- "Former RAAF 707s flown out by Omega". Australian Aviation. October 23, 2011.
- Stevenson, Beth (23 April 2015). "USN X-47B completes air-to-air refuelling test". Flightglobal. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
- "Luchtmacht neemt afscheid van eerste KDC-10" [Air Force bids farewell to first KDC-10]. Luchtvaartnieuws (in Dutch). 4 November 2019.
- "Frequently Asked Questions". Omega Aerial Refueling Services. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
- Trevithick, Joseph (9 April 2020). "Romanian Dictators Boeing 707 Makes First Flight In Years for Delivery to Air Refueling Firm". The Drive.
- Andrew Blankstein and W.J. Hennigan (19 May 2011). "3 hurt as refueling plane bursts into flames at Point Mugu". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
External links
