AirTanker Services

AirTanker Services Limited, incorporated in England and Wales on 14 June 2007 with the company registration number 06279646, is a private limited company in the United Kingdom, which operates a British airline known as AirTanker, and is also an aircraft leasing and operating company.
Under contract to the Government of the United Kingdom, AirTanker Holdings Limited, owns a fleet of fourteen Airbus A330 MRTT multi-role tanker transport aircraft primarily for military operations by the Royal Air Force. In turn, AirTanker Services Limited operate those fourteen aircraft for the Royal Air Force, known by the British [military aircraft designation systems|British military service name] Voyager, as the RAF's now sole type of tanker aircraft for aerial refuelling, whilst simultaneously being able to operate as military troop and cargo transport, and also configurable for military aeromedical roles. For additional revenue, AirTanker Services Limited is able to operate as a civilian airline named AirTanker, using any reserve aircraft on short-term air charter, or longer-term damp-lease or wet lease arrangements to other civilian airlines for commercial gain.

History

In March 2008, the Ministry of Defence signed the finalised Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft contract with AirTanker Holdings Limited to provide the Royal Air Force with an air transport and air-to-air refuelling capability. The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft contract stipulated the supply of fourteen Airbus A330 MRTT , with all fourteen airframes being converted to the full Multi-Role Tanker Transport tanker specification. This new capability was to provide a modern replacement for the RAF's then ageing fleet of aerial refuelling tankers; namely the Vickers VC10 and Lockheed TriStar. In addition to its primary role of supporting the Royal Air Force, AirTanker Services Limited also holds a UK Civil Aviation Authority Type A Global operating licence, permitting it to operate as revenue-generating civilian airline; capable of carrying fare-paying passengers, cargo, and mail, on aircraft with twenty or more seats.
Prior to the delivery of the aircraft to the Royal Air Force, new facilities were constructed RAF Brize Nortonin Oxfordshire, the RAF's largest airbase. Known as AirTanker Hub, these facilities are owned by industry, and act as headquarters and registered office for both ATH and ATS, and contain all support services for operation and maintenance of the AirTanker fleet. In accordance with the dual military and civilian roles, all fourteen aircraft in the fleet must be able to switch between the UK's Civil Aircraft Register, and its Military Aircraft Register. They are thus dual registered, and individually identified by a UK civilian aircraft registration mark, and a UK military aircraft registration ; although only one type of registration mark is displayed, dependent on its operator. The airframe with the manufacturers' construction number 1555 is a notable example: when first delivered to the RAF after its military conversion to an MRTT on 26 June 2015, it was military registered ZZ341, and was displayed as such at the 2015 Royal International Air Tattoo ; by June 2017, it had been 'demilitarised', and leased to a commercial operator with the civilian registration G-VYGL.
On 12 May 2012, Sponsored Reservists of No. 10 Squadron for AirTanker Services began RAF operations of its Airbus A330 MRTT, known by the RAF as the Voyager, by operating a military air transport sortie to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus from its home airbase of RAF Brize Norton.
Following the issue of an air operating licence by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the airline flew its first charter flight to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus for the UK Ministry of Defence in January 2013. After delays in certification due to issues with its refuelling drogue baskets, its first operational aerial refuelling flight took place on. Following subsequent successful Voyager tanker aerial fuel delivery operations to all operational Royal Air Force, and allied receiver aircraft, in late 2013, No. 101 Squadron RAF retired all their remaining Vickers VC10s and became the second RAF flying squadron alongside 10 Squadron to operate the Voyager.
From October 2013, AirTanker's civilian pilots and flight crews started to provide the twice-weekly scheduled passenger flights using a demodified unmilitarised Voyager aircraft with a single-class cabin of 291 economy class|premium economy] seats between RAF Brize Norton and RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands, known as the South Atlantic Air Bridge, a distance of more than ; mainly for the movement of military personnel and contractors, military cargo, and civilian freight, though fare-paying civilian passengers are also allowed to travel. These air bridge flights originally stopped mid-journey for ground refuelling at RAF Ascension Island in the Southern Atlantic Ocean; but due to the deteriorating condition of its runway, the refuelling stop was transferred to Cape Verde. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this refuelling stop was moved to Blaise Diagne International Airport in Dakar, west Africa, from April to September 2020. However, in early June 2020, an AirTanker A330-243 set a new record by flying non-stop direct from Brize Norton to Mount Pleasant without refuelling. Captained by RAF pilot Dave Hall, a former Vickers VC10 pilot, now a No. 10 Squadron sponsored reservist pilot, departing on 2 June, it completed the non-stop total distance of to Mount Pleasant in fifteen hours nine minutes; breaking the previous record by thirty-six minutes, set in 1987 by an RAF Vickers VC10. Its return journey, departing the Falklands on 5 June was also completed non-stop. Following major repairs to the runway at RAF Ascension Island by US contractors, ground refuelling stops resumed at the island in May 2023. More recent non-stop flights from Brize Norton to Mount Pleasant and return have been made by the civilian-crews on 19 November 2023 in 19 hours 14 minutes, 6 December 2023 in 18:57, 6 June 2024 in 18:30, 20 June 2024 in 18:27, 29 July 2024 in 18:43, 6 October 2024 in 18:50, and 4 November 2024 in 18:23.
From late 2014, up to two AirTanker Holdings RAF Voyager KC3 aircraft operated by the RAF have been involved in combat missions in support of Operation Shader. They are tasked for tanker sorties supplying fuel to RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s and Lockheed Martin F-35Bs, AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18 Hornets of the US Marine Corps, along with other probe-equipped coalition receiver aircraft. These Voyagers are assigned to No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing based at RAF Akrotiri in the Sovereign Base Area on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
In May 2015, AirTanker Holdings leased one de-modified and demilitarised A330-243 aircraft to Thomas Cook Airlines to be deployed on holiday routes. The contract ran for three years, and involved mainly long-haul flights from Glasgow Airport, Manchester Airport and London Stansted Airport. The first commercial flight took place on, from Manchester to Cancun in Mexico and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. In April 2017, a second aircraft was also leased to Thomas Cook Airlines and in May 2019 another was leased to Jet2.com, following a different aircraft being leased to Jet2.com in June 2017.
File:RAF Airbus A330-243 MRTT Voyager KC3 ZZ336 returns to RAF Brize Norton in June 2020 following major maintenance and displaying its new 'Global Britain' livery, now named 'Vespina' by the Royal Air Force.jpg|thumb|ZZ336 Vespina, the Royal Air Force's VIP Voyager KC3 returns to RAF Brize Norton following completion of programmed mid-life major servicing and her new 'Global Britain' gloss-white livery, June 2020.|alt=A gloss white painted Airbus A330 with a red, white and blue 'Union Jack' flag on its vertical tail fin and UNITED KINGDOM in gold lettering on its upper fuselage, operated by the Royal Air Force, which has been modified for military and VIP use, is about to land RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England.
During early 2016, RAF Voyager KC3 aircraft was further converted to VIP fitment for use by members of the British Royal Family, the Prime Minister, and senior members of the UK Government. Whilst still retaining its original core military function of aerial refuelling tanker and military transport, the aircraft's passenger cabin was reconfigured to include fifty-eight business class seats up front in a dual-aisle one-two-one configuration, retaining one-hundred premium economy standard-class seats in the standard two-four-two configuration rear cabin. The VIP upgrade also included secure satellite communications system, missile detection, secure weapons storage, and media facilities, similar to other dedicated air [transports of heads of state and government]. This aircraft originally retained its military low-visibility matt-grey exterior paint scheme, identical to the remainder of the Voyager KC2 and KC3 fleet. During mid-2020, as part of its programmed mid-life upgrades and major servicing, it was repainted in gloss-white 'Global Britain' livery, which includes a stylised Union Jack on its tail fin and winglets, gold United Kingdom lettering, but retaining its Royal Air Force name, RAF roundels, and prominent military aircraft registration. When returned to service with the RAF, it was given the name Vespina by the Royal Air Force.
On AirTanker Holdings reached the final establishment phase milestone in the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme; with the achievement of full service date on time and on budget, delivering all fourteen A330-243 MRTT aircraft to the RAF on behalf of the UK government.
In 2017, AirTanker Services established a new operating base at Manchester Airport to support its AirTanker civilian leasing operations for its de-modified demilitarised A330-243 aircraft. The same year, members of AirTankers' cabin crew were seconded to Thomas Cook Airlines, fostering its existing relationship and facilitating training of A330 cabin crew for Thomas Cook Airlines.
In 2022, AirTanker Services was awarded a contract by Airbus Defence and Space, on behalf of the European Defence Agency, who are the operator of the Multinational MRTT Fleet, for its fleet of Airbus A330 MRTT as used by six NATO partner nations. This was to provide engineering support services to the Netherlands-based, but Luxembourg-registered Multinational MRTT Fleet. The contract agreement is for a work share between AirTanker and Airbus for three specific support services; these include Rolls-Royce Trent 772B-60 engine support, Cobham flight refuelling pod support, and maintenance.

Corporate affairs

AirTanker Services Limited and AirTanker Holdings Limited are both owned by a consortium ; consisting of Airbus, Rolls-Royce plc, Equitix Investment Management Limited, Cobham plc, Babcock International, and Thales Group. AirTanker Services and AirTanker Holdings both have their headquarters and registered office at the AirTanker Hub, RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

Personnel and support

AirTanker Holdings owns the entire fleet of fourteen Airbus A330-243 aircraft under the terms of its contract with the UK government. AirTanker Services operate the aircraft, and also provides full support infrastructure to service and maintain the aircraft fleet, operational management, personnel training, and some specific aircraft crews. For Royal Air Force operations, this latter includes military pilots and engineers who are classed as 'Sponsored Reservists'.
Its surge fleet, the de-modified demilitarised A330-243 aircraft, used as civilian air charter or wet lease, are operated by AirTanker civilian pilots, but draw cabin crew from the respective civilian airline they operate for.

Fleet

AirTanker Holdings has a 27-year contract to provide fourteen aircraft. All airframes are the Airbus A330 MRTT; based upon the A330-243 civilian airliner with a dual-aisle, two-four-two passenger cabin, powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Trent 772B-60 turbofan jet engines. Each aircraft can carry a total fuel load of. The Voyagers are able to dispense of fuel, from its existing wing and fuselage fuel tanks, to receiver aircraft via its hose-and-drogue systems. They have a loiter time of up to four hours, and a range of more than.
The AirTanker Holdings fleet originally consisted of a 'core' fleet of nine military aircraft; eight with UK military registration marks and one UK civilian registration, along with a 'surge' fleet of five UK civil registered de-modified demilitarised aircraft which it uses for additional revenue. The surge fleet can be recalled for military use at any time as required. This fleet balance was subsequently revised; the military-registered core fleet was increased to ten aircraft, and the civilian-registered surge fleet reducing to four.

Versions

The AirTanker Holdings owned fleet of fourteen aircraft are known by the following official nomenclature, as defined by their primary operator :

Royal Air Force (RAF)

Primarily operated by Royal Air Force military Sponsored Reservist pilots and cabin crew of No. 10 Squadron and No. 101 Squadron, along with No. 1312 Flight of the RAF by AirTanker Services. All aircraft are externally painted in a low-visibility matt-grey livery, with RAF insignia and roundels, identified by their British military aircraft registration mark:

Voyager KC2 – three aircraft with two under-wing outboard Cobham 905E hose and drogue refuelling pods, suitable for supplying fuel to probe-equipped small fast-jet combat aircraft such as the Panavia Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Lockheed Martin F-35B.
Voyager KC3 – seven aircraft identical to the KC2, but with an additional centreline Cobham 805E Fuselage Refuelling Unit suitable for supplying fuel in larger volumes at higher delivery rate to probe-equipped larger military transport aircraft and mission-specific military converted civilian airliners, such as the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules and Airbus A400M Atlas.
AirTanker (TOW)

Operated by AirTanker Services civilian pilots and cabin crew. Dependent on primary mission, these are externally painted white with lessor airline logos, or low-visibility matt-grey with AirTanker logos for the individual airframe permanently tasked for the South Atlantic Air Bridge. All aircraft are identified by their British civilian aircraft registration mark:

A330-243 — four de-modified and demilitarised aircraft operating purely as a civilian passenger airliner for short-term air charter or longer-term wet or damp lease.

Military	Civilian	Serial number\|	Type & DBritish military aircraft designation systems\|	Operator	Passenger seating capacity & class	Home base	Date in service	Year built	Notes / livery / operations
ZZ330	G-VYGA	1046	Voyager KC2		291 premium economy	RAF Brize Norton		2009	originally, then
ZZ331	G-VYGB	1248	Voyager KC2	Royal Air Force	291 premium economy	RAF Brize Norton		2011	originally, then
ZZ332	G-VYGC	1275	Voyager KC3	Royal Air Force	291 premium economy	RAF Brize Norton		2011	originally, then
ZZ333	G-VYGD	1312	Voyager KC3	Royal Air Force	291 premium economy	RAF Akrotiri		2012	originally, then, assigned to 903 EAW in support of Op Shader
ZZ334	G-VYGE	1033	Voyager KC3	Royal Air Force	291 premium economy	RAF Akrotiri		2009	originally, then, then, assigned to 903 EAW in support of Op Shader
ZZ335	G-VYGF	1334	Voyager KC3	Royal Air Force	291 premium economy	RAF Brize Norton		2012	originally, then
ZZ336	G-VYGG	1363	Voyager KC3	Royal Air Force VIP transport	VIP: 58 business class, 100 premium economy	RAF Brize Norton		2012	originally, then, converted to VIP specification in 2016, known as Vespina since Union Jack 'Global Britain' livery in June 2020
ZZ337	G-VYGH	1390	Voyager KC3	Royal Air Force	291 premium economy	RAF Mount Pleasant		2009	originally, then MRTT023, then, operated by 1312 Flt to support the four QRA Typhoon FGR4 of 1435 Flt
ZZ338	G-VYGI	1419	Voyager KC3	Royal Air Force	291 premium economy	RAF Brize Norton		2013	originally, then
ZZ339	G-VYGJ	1439		AirTanker for RAF	291 premium economy	RAF Brize Norton		2013	originally, then, low-visibility matt-grey livery with AirTanker logos, primarily tasked for the South Atlantic Air Bridge
ZZ340	G-VYGK	1498	A330-243	AirTanker for RAF	320 economy when leased	RAF Brize Norton		2013	originally, then, low-visibility white livery
ZZ341	G-VYGL	1555	A330-243	AirTanker for Jet2.com	327 economy	Manchester		2013	originally, then, white Jet2.com livery
ZZ342	G-VYGM	1601	A330-243	AirTanker for Jet2.com	327 economy	Manchester		2014	originally, then MRTT028, then, white Jet2.com livery
ZZ343	G-VYGN	1610	Voyager KC2	Royal Air Force	291 premium economy	RAF Brize Norton		2014	originally, then, 14th and final Voyager to enter service

Notes:

The dates in service indicate the point in time when each aircraft was delivered to its operator at RAF Brize Norton, specifically as a Voyager following conversion of an existing civilian airliner by Airbus Military into its full MRTT specification; these airframes were individually manufactured some years earlier, the oldest airframe taking its first flight on 4 June 2009.
One RAF Voyager KC3 is permanently based at RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands as part of No. 1312 Flight RAF, to provide aerial refuelling for its 1312 Flt stablemate A400M Atlas C1 transport aircraft, along with the four quick reaction alert Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets of No. 1435 Flight RAF. An additional demilitarised A330-243 operated by AirTanker is used twice weekly to provide the air bridge between RAF Brize Norton in the UK and RAF Mount Pleasant in the South Atlantic.
Accidents and incidents

On Sunday 9 February 2014, an RAF Voyager KC3, registration ZZ333, was tasked with an air transport flight from RAF Brize Norton #Aviation kitchen|galley]. The co-pilot returned to the cockpit to a scene of disarray, audible alarms, and "violent shaking" of the aircraft. He reached over to his right-hand side-stick, pulling back to regain control of the aircraft as the aircraft's built-in safeguards also kicked in. The sudden descent caused several injuries to twenty-five passengers and seven crew, some of whom struck the ceiling of the aircraft; they were attended by medical personnel onboard as passengers on the flight. A maximum g-force of minus 0.56 g was recorded at the start of the dive, and plus 2.06 g during the recovery to level flight. After gaining control, the aircraft diverted to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey and landed without further incident. The incident resulted in the grounding of the entire RAF Voyager fleet for twelve days. Following an investigation by the Military Air Accidents Investigation Branch at Farnborough on 14 February 2014, the UK Military Aviation Authority published a report which determined that the event was caused by the captain's improperly stowed DSLR camera being jammed between the captain's armrest and the side-stick controller, forcing the stick forward when the captain adjusted his seat forward.