The distance from Chisote, Japan, to Darwin, Australia, is nearly 7,000 km across the endless blue of the Pacific Ocean. With our Eurofighter 2-Ship, the flight will take about nine hours, during which we will refuel seven times from the accompanying tanker. 

During the briefing, we discussed the flight route, coordinated the refueling schedule, identified potential alternate airports—and took a deep breath. Because, of course, we also thought about the possibility of crashing into the Pacific: Where are the shipping lanes and cruise routes if I end up adrift in the Pacific in my one-man lifeboat? 

Between Routine and Risk 

We take off well prepared—and with plenty of adrenaline ⚡. After four hours of flying in the middle of nowhere, thunderstorm cells suddenly appear ahead of us. Although the commander of the refueling aircraft takes care of flying around the cells, the next air refueling becomes a real challenge due to the turbulence caused by the storm 🌩️: If the refueling probe breaks off now, the search for emergency landing sites becomes a serious matter. 

Suddenly, my young wingman, who is currently docked to the tanker, reports a yellow warning light. He no longer has his full internal fuel supply available. He immediately halts the refueling process to assess the situation. 

Decisions Under Pressure 

As flight lead, I go over the checklist, the fuel system manual, and our options with him—including a quick look at the shipping routes mentioned above. 

With one ton of "trapped fuel," the range is severely limited. So the tank needs to stay as full as possible. That means refueling not just seven times, but eleven refueling stops —and all while dealing with severe turbulence. On top of that, we have to reroute to a longer path that’s closer to emergency landing sites. 

But have I interpreted the checklist and the fuel system correctly? And should I voice my doubts? 

Trust is stronger than ego 

But that’s what a team is for! Without a second thought, I put my ego aside and discuss the issue over the radio with the Eurofighter pilots who are flying along as passengers in the tanker. 

And lo and behold—together, we realize that my wingman and I had assessed the situation correctly. We plan the additional refueling stops and eventually land safely at our alternate airport. 

Team spirit above all else 

There, over a cold drink and with a huge sense of relief, we all share our thoughts—on risk management, decision-making, and communication, but also on self-doubt, a culture of learning from mistakes, and the invaluable importance of a good team. 

Join our seminars to see firsthand how we handle these situations in aviation!