Main Conference Day One: 25th January

08.30 Registration And Coffee

09.00 Chairman’s Introduction

Air Commodore Peter Gray (Ret’d)
Senior Research Fellow in Air Power Studies
Birmingham University

09.10 Aerial Refuelling: The Strategic Importance Of Tankers

  • 2010: Where are we?
  • Maintaining the capability to project power
  • Tracking technology developments
  • The future: New equipment, autonomous refuelling & smart tankers?

Air Commodore Peter Gray (Ret’d)
Senior Research Fellow in Air Power Studies
Birmingham University

09.50 US Air Force AAR Concept Of Operations (CONOPS)

  • Operations with KC-135 aircraft
  • Carrying out AAR training with other NATO partner nations
  • AAR for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations
  • Recent operational feedback

Colonel Creg Paulk
Operations Commander, 100th Air Refuelling Wing
US Air Force

10.30 Coffee And Networking Break

11.00 World Tanker Overview

  • Air-to-air refuelling in 2010
  • The KC-X acquisition
  • AAR leasing: The future?

Wing Commander Andrew Brookes (ret’d)
Aerospace Analyst
International Institute of Strategic Studies

11.40 Request For Protests: Lessons From The US Tanker Programme

  • Background to the KC-X acquisition programme
  • The political reality
  • Request for proposal – third time lucky?

Bill Sweetman
Editor in Chief
Defense Technology International

12.20 Networking Lunch

14.00 The Future Of International AAR Co-Operation

  • The work of the Movement Co-ordination Centre Europe (MCCE)
  • Providing a multi-national AAR capability
  • Optimisation of resources
  • Air space management for AAR operations
  • Co-operation between MCCE, the nations and Eurocontrol

Colonel Freek van der Vaart
Director
Movement Co-ordination Centre Europe

Lieutenant Colonel Lionel Poirot
AAR Cell Chief
Movement Coordination Centre Europe

Captain Bernd Heisler
Air Space Management
Movement Coordination Centre Europe

15.20 Coffee And Networking Break

15.50 US Air Force 60th Air Mobility Wing KC-10 Tanker

  • The challenge of providing spares
  • Flight safety considerations
  • Supporting both the AAR and AT roles
  • Operational feedbacK

Colonel James C. Vechery
Commander 60th Air Mobility Wing
US Air Force*

16.30 Air To Air Refuelling Capability Of The French Air Force

  • Operations of French Air Force will KC-135FR tankers
  • Repair and maintenance of the KC-135FR
  • Upgrade to the avionics of the KC-135 fleet
  • A330 MRTT entry into service and implications for AAR operations

Major Franck “BOT” BottéÈro
Deputy Squadron Leader “Bretagne”, Istres AFB, Strategic Air Command
French Air Force

17.10 Chairman’s Close

17.20 End Of Day One

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