FAA certification is complete for the Boeing-built KC-46 aircraft
NewsSeptember 05, 2018
EVERETT, Wash. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials granted the Boeing-built U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker program a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), verifying that its refueling and mission avionics systems meet FAA requirements. The milestone marks completion of KC-46 FAA certification.
The Air Force/Boeing test team completed a series of lab, ground and flight tests, which commenced in 2015. As part of the required flight testing, the team validated the KC-46’s boom and drogue aerial refueling systems met FAA certification criteria.
The STC is one of two required FAA airworthiness certifications. Boeing received an Amended Type Certificate for its core 767-2C aircraft configuration in December 2017. While those certifications cover most of the jet, not all military functions and equipment can be certified by the FAA. The U.S. Air Force also must grant a Military Type Certificate (MTC), which is expected in the coming months. Boeing’s team concluded MTC flight testing, which included the jet’s aerial refueling, defensive and other military-specific systems, in early July.
The KC-46, derived from Boeing’s commercial 767 airframe, is built in the company’s Everett, Washington facility. Boeing is currently on contract for the first 34 of an expected 179 tankers for the U.S. Air Force.
