AirTanker Services Limited

2008-2015: Initial concept and launch

In March 2008, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed the finalised Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) contract with AirTanker Holdings Limited (ATH) (the legal owner of the aircraft) to provide the Royal Air Force (RAF) with an air transport and air-to-air refuelling capability. The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft contract stipulated the supply of fourteen Airbus A330 MRTT (A330-243), with all fourteen airframes being converted to the full Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) 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 RAF, AirTanker Services Limited (ATS) (the legal operator of the civilian AirTanker airline) also holds a UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) 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 RAF, new facilities were constructed RAF Brize Norton in 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, although only one type of registration mark is displayed, dependent on its operator.

On 12 May 2012, sponsored reservists (members of the RAF, but salaried by commercial companies) 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 CAA, the airline flew its first charter flight to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus for the MoD in January 2013. After delays in certification due to issues with its refuelling drogue baskets, its first operational aerial refuelling flight took place on 20 May 2013 (2013-05-20). Following subsequent successful Voyager tanker aerial fuel delivery operations to all operational RAF, and allied receiver aircraft, in late 2013, No. 101 Squadron RAF retired all their remaining Vickers VC10s and became the second RAF squadron alongside 10 Squadron to operate the Voyager.