The Aerial Refueling Systems Advisory Group (ARSAG) an independent, technical and professional organization, is the only working forum dedicated to aerial refueling. Annually, ARSAG gathers representatives of the United States military services, U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard as well as Air Forces and Ministries of Defense of fourteen other nations to confer regarding aerial refueling issues. Additionally, United States and International airframe manufacturers, aerial refueling hardware manufacturers, study groups and aerospace consultants meet with these military organizations to discuss all facets of aerial refueling technology, procedures, interoperability, safety, design, training, operations, reliability and maintainability, test, advanced concepts and studies and analysis.

ARSAG is a professional, technical organization. Prior to ARSAG’s founding, advances and changes in aerial refueling were made unilaterally with little sharing of information. However, as defense organizations, increasingly and internationally, began to employ aerial refueling, uniformity, interoperability and compatibility became imperative.

As military forces have changed, so have the industries supporting them and the institutions peripheral to them. Organizations have down-sized and merged; budgets have tightened and come under greater scrutiny; goals have been re-shaped and brought into sharper focus; and extraneous activities have been curtailed. At the same time that all these have occurred, the importance of aerial refueling has increased.

Organizations whose interests are served by ARSAG include:

• Defense organizations who employ aerial refueling
• Manufacturers of aerial refueling hardware
• Airframe manufacturers
• Academic, media and study groups with interests in aerial refueling.

These challenges are illustrated by the significant number and diversity of international organizations who cooperate in the aerial refueling arena. The complexity of that challenge is compounded by the wide variety of aircraft involved and the continual modernization of those aircraft.

Many technical advances in aerial refueling can be directly attributed to the knowledge, skills and energy of ARSAG members and to their willingness to work together. At ARSAG’s first meeting, three significant hardware improvements for retrofit on the KC-135 tanker were identified. These items were:

• An in-line fuel pressure regulator;
• The MA-3 coupling back-up pressure regulation and surge protection; and
• A through-the-boom communications system that would permit communication between the tanker and receiver after hook-up while maintaining radio silence.

The funding for and realization of the foregoing items was a direct result of the work and communication in that first ARSAG meeting. More recently, the crucial role ARSAG plays in inter-organizational and international interoperability was underscored in Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Shield and in Operation Desert Storm.

ARSAG’s work could not have been accomplished without the generous offerings of time and energy on the part of its participants. The United States and International military services have come to the conferences, shared technical and operational information with the ARSAG attendees; and they have listened to the ideas of the designers and manufacturers. The Industry representatives have come and shared their concepts; and they have listened to the needs and problems of the military services. Speakers and Briefers have used their expertise, time and energy in preparing and giving beneficial, timely and interesting presentations. Conference attendees have freely shared their ideas. Exhibitors have displayed their hardware and made the event more interesting and exciting. The conference and Spring Meeting hosts have demonstrated warm hospitality in planning and arranging the conferences and meetings. The Steering Group and Panel Chairs have attended the Spring Meetings providing valuable guidance to ARSAG and planning the conferences.

Annual ARSAG conferences are held in the late summer or autumn. (Formerly, a semi-annual schedule was maintained with Spring and Autumn conferences.) Currently, only the Steering Group and Panel Chairpersons meet for the Planning Session in the Spring. ARSAG’s primary focus is the important technical, operational and training work and achievements of the annual conferences.

The sponsoring military and industry organizations, ARSAG administrators and the ARSAG Chairman work together in arranging for distinguished and knowledgeable speakers, obtaining meeting facilities and planning special activities. The conference agenda is planned by the ARSAG Panel Chairpersons, Steering Group and Chairman to provide a productive and pleasant week working for the advancement of aerial refueling. The agenda consists of a "meaty" week of active discussion and timely, informative briefings on aerial refueling technical, operational, interoperability, training, advance concepts, planning, design and test topics. Interesting and informative exhibits are mounted at ARSAG conferences. Opportunities and space are provided for side meetings on particular aerial refueling topics. Enlightening tours of military facilities, airframe and hardware manufacturing facilities often are included.

ARSAG conference agendas include:

• Addresses by keynote and guest speakers, distinguished members of the defense community;
• Briefings and discussions regarding new technical developments in aerial refueling;
• Reports from the international defense members regarding status, capabilities, problems, programs and safety issues;
• Reports from United States defense members regarding status, capabilities, problems, programs and safety issues;
• Action Item submission, consideration, discussion and resulting ARSAG Advisories (any conference attendee may submit an Action Item for consideration);
• Discussions of: improved and innovative aerial refueling equipment and procedures; changes in specifications; historical lessons learned;
• Displays of hardware and other exhibits related to aerial refueling; and
• Opportunities for the exchange of aerial refueling ideas and information between all attending industry and military delegates.

Military forces who use aerial refueling have an unparalleled opportunity at ARSAG conferences to share their concerns, needs and plans and to assure interoperability. This sharing of experiences and "lessons learned" can help to avoid costly errors, redundancies and misdirection's. ARSAG’s communication value extends to operations, training and acquisitions.

Military forces use the ARSAG forum as an aid in guiding those industries and service providers who assist in solving their problems. Through the sharing of information, ARSAG helps to assure the development of the highest quality, most functional, interoperable aerial refueling hardware and systems.

Industries involved in aerial refueling cannot find a broader or more concentrated gathering of military forces interested in aerial refueling than at an ARSAG conference. ARSAG conferences are a uniquely open and forthright forum for the discussion of operational and technical issues and for the solution of aerial refueling problems.

Opportunities abound: to hear, first hand, what aerial refueling customers are thinking and planning; to highlight aerial refueling products and services; and to learn aerial refueling practitioners’ assessments of the equipment available to them.

ARSAG considers important aerial refueling technical and procedural issues through its Action Item Process. Any ARSAG participant may submit an Action Item, a written brief which includes: a suggestion for an improvement in hardware, procedures, training, etc.; a solution to a problem; a method for optimizing current inventories; notice of aerial refueling users needs. Action Items are thoroughly considered; those which have been completed are submitted as ARSAG Advisories to the ARSAG Chairman for signature. According to ARSAG’s charter, the consensus of the members is expressed through ARSAG Advisories. Signed advisories are distributed to the military and industry organizations which appropriately may implement them. Significant changes and improvements in aerial refueling can result from ARSAG Advisories.

Looking ahead to the future, ARSAG's attention is focused on many issues. A few of which are:

• developing a standard tanker/receiver compatibility clearance procedure, an especially important item in view of recent changes regarding military specifications
• identifying the needs of aerial refueling users and translating them into aerial refueling hardware through cooperative industry and government research, development, test and evaluation
• encouraging the development of equipment which will expand tanker aerial refueling capability and flexibility in order to refuel more aircraft from the same tanker
• suggesting methods for converting existing airframes which could serve as tankers and advanced automated aerial refueling system technology
• developing and validating a math model for evaluation of fuel system steady state and pressure transients; thus, facilitating technical assessment of the compatibility between tanker/receiver aerial refueling system with a minimum of ground and flight test evaluations;
• emphasizing aerial refueling training procedures and opportunities
• developing advanced formation aids

The interest and commitment of ARSAG participants grows as the organization expands and more nations are aligned with ARSAG. ARSAG’s founders filled the need that existed in 1978. They could not foresee that ARSAG would become even more valuable in a very different defense climate. In the current restructuring environment, ARSAG is an important tool in assisting defense organizations to "do more with less" and to maintain effectiveness through efficient use of inventories. Industry and defense organization leaders have expressed their eagerness to cooperate in assuring the continuity of ARSAG.

ARSAG offers a unique opportunity for aerial refueling communication and interaction. Through ARSAG, industry and defense organization members are able to fulfill their requirements for hardware, procedural information, test data, recent technical developments and interoperability requirements. In addition, they may take advantage of the accumulated experience of hundreds of individuals who have participated in the science / art of aerial refueling.

A tightening defense budget and the restructuring and down-sizing of military and industry organization will necessitate development, testing and employment of new hardware in the most efficient manner possible. A narrower margin for research and development will be afforded.

ARSAG continues to function in accordance with its original Charter that was approved by the U.S. Air Force in 1978. It is a unique group dedicated to aerial refueling issues. It exists to provide a communication mechanism between the military and industry organizations of its fifteen member nations. In this regard, ARSAG has been remarkably successful.

Much has been accomplished through ARSAG; much remains to be achieved. The founders’ vision and commitment to ARSAG and its continued growth remain firm. Aerial refueling will remain a vital and effective tool so long as ARSAG participants continue to cooperate and work toward common goals.

ARSAG never sleeps. As world situations change, so does the air refueling requirements. We continue to look for ways to improve this ever growing arena through the dedication and cooperation of our international military and industrial families. Through their efforts, the Air Refueling community will never be caught out of gas.