Wedgetail cleared to sup on Dutch fuel
An Australian E-7A Wedgetail operating as part of Australia’s Air Task Group (ATG) in the Middle East recently required special permission to receive air-to-air refuelling from a Dutch tanker over Iraq.
But, because the Wedgetail had never connected with a Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10 Multi-Role Tanker Transport before, special operational-level clearance was required.
Operational clearances are used when short-notice clearance is required for critical opertational requirements.
In this case, because, the Wedgetail was previously cleared and certified to refuel from a KC-10 Extender, which is a similar aircraft, operational clearance was granted.
The ADF did not say what the critical opertational requirements or circumstance were.
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