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NATO NATO STANDARDIZATION AGENCY

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OTAN AGENCE OTAN DE NORMALISATION

22 November 2010 NSAl1217(2010)-DPP/3847

See Distribution List: EAPC (NPC - PHEWG)

STANAG 3847 DPP (EDITION 2) - HELICOPTER IN·FLlGHT REFUELLING

(HIFR) EQUIPMENT

Reference:

MAS(AIR)438·PHE/3847, dated 19 October 1984

1. The enclosed NATO Standardization Agreement, which has been ratified

by nations as reflected in the NATO Standardization and Documentation Database
(NSDD), is promulgated herewith.

2. The reference listed above is to be destroyed in accordance with local

document destruction procedures.

3. The Petroleum Committee (AC/112) considers this an editorial edition of

the STANAG; previous ratifying references and implementation details are deemed
to be valid.

~#
Cihangir AKSIT, TUR Civ
Director, NATO Standardization Agency

Enclosure:

STANAG 3847 (Edition 2)

NATO Standardization Agency - Agence OTAN de normalisation

B·1110 Brussels, Belgium Internet site: http://nsa.nato.int
E·mail: van·exem.philippe@hq.nato.int - Tel 32.2.707.4564 Fax 32.2.707.4843

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STANAG 3847
(Edition 2)
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION
(NATO)

NATO STANDARDIZATION AGENCY

(NSA)

STANDARDIZATION AGREEMENT
(STANAG)

SUBJECT: HELICOPTER IN-FLIGHT REFUELLING (HIFR) EQUIPMENT

Promulgated on 22 November 2010

C;~RC'
Director, NATO Standardization Agency

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STANAG 3847
(Edition 2)

RECORD OF AMENDMENTS

No. Reference/date of Date Signature

Amendment Entered

EXPLANATORY NOTES

AGREEMENT

1. This NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) is promulgated by the Director

NATO Standardization Agency under the authority vested in him by the NATO
Standardization Organisation Charter.

2. No departure may be made from the agreement without informing the tasking
authority in the form of a reservation. Nations may propose changes at any time to the
tasking authority where they will be processed in the same manner as the original
agreement.

3. Ratifying nations have agreed that national orders, manuals and instructions
implementing this STANAG will include a reference to the STANAG number for purposes
of identification.

RATIFICATION, IMPLEMENTATION AND RESERVATIONS

4. Ratification, implementation and reservation details are available on request or

through the NSA websites (internet http://nsa.nato.int; NATO Secure WAN
http://nsa.hq.nato.int).

FEEDBACK

5. Any comments concerning this publication should be directed to NATO/NSA – Bvd

Leopold III - 1110 Brussels - BE.

ii

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STANAG 3847
(Edition 2)

NATO STANDARDIZATION AGREEMENT

(STANAG)

HELICOPTER IN-FLIGHT REFUELLING (HIFR) EQUIPMENT

Related Documents:

APP-2(F)/MPP-2(F)VOL I HELICOPTER OPERATIONS FROM SHIPS

OTHER THAN AIRCRAFT CARRIERS (HOSTAC)
(MARITME VSTOL DATA INCLUDED)

STANAG 3105 ASSE - PRESSURE REFUELLING CONNECTIONS AND

DEFUELLING FOR AIRCRAFT

STANAG 3681 DPP - CRITERIA FOR PRESSURE

FUELLING/DEFUELLING OF AIRCRAFT

STANAG 3682 DPP - ELECTROSTATIC SAFETY CONNECTION

PROCEDURES FOR AVIATION FUEL
HANDLING AND LIQUID FUEL
LOADING/UNLOADING OPERATIONS DURING
GROUND TRANSFER AND AIRCRAFT
FUELLING/DEFUELLING

AIM

1. The aim of this agreement is to provide a minimum standard for

Helicopter In-Flight Refuelling (HIFR) equipment which can safely pressure-
refuel helicopters in the hover from ships and meet the operational
requirements of APP-2(F)/MPP-2(F), Volume 1.

AGREEMENT

2. Participating nations agree that HIFR equipment shall meet the

following minimum requirements:

a. The length of the fuel hose is to be such that it allows the

helicopter to be refuelled safely while in the hover, up to a
maximum height of 15 m (49 ft) above the flight deck refuelling
point, or 20 m (65 ft) above the water, and up to a maximum
lateral distance of 20 m (65 ft) from the port side of the ship.

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STANAG 3847
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b. A pressure refuelling self-sealing coupling (nozzle) to the aircraft

is to be provided with a manually controlled ON/OFF valve, and
the coupling dimensions are to conform to STANAG 3105.

c. The fuel pressure delivered at the aircraft is not to be less than

1.38 bar (20 psi) nor exceed 3.44 bar (50 psi). The minimum
flow rate is to be 114 litres (25 Imperial gallons, 30 US gallons)
per minute.

d. A suitable lifting eye is to be provided between 2.1 and 3 metres

(7 and 10 feet) from the aircraft end of the HIFR hose. The
dimensions of the orifice of the eye (which may be elongated)
are to be:

Min - 33 mm (1.30 in) high

- 22 mm (0.87 in) wide

Max - 76 mm (3 in) diameter circle.

The material lying over the winch hook is to be of cross section

not exceeding a diameter of 19 mm (0.75 in). The eye shall be
capable of supporting the maximum weight of the HIFR
assembly under normal HIFR operations and must also be
capable of the ultimate load limit in paragraph 2.g. below.

e. A minimum of one self-sealing emergency break-away coupling

is to be fitted in the HIFR hose between the lifting eye and the
ship, close to the lifting eye.

f. Automatic release of the break-away coupling is preferred and

the tensile force to break the coupling is to be between 180 kgf
(400 lbf) and 230 kgf (500 lbf) while observing the ultimate limit in
paragraph 2.g. below. If an automatic release is provided, a
suitable deck attachment point at the ship’s end of the HIFR
hose is required to ensure tension can be applied during an
emergency break-away.

g. The HIFR equipment is to be designed so that the absolute

maximum load produced at the lifting eye under normal
operating conditions, including the emergency break-away force,
does NOT exceed 270 kgf (595 lbf), the capacity of the aircraft’s
rescue winch. At this load, the elongation of the hose is not to
exceed 5%.

h. The HIFR equipment is to be electrically bonded between the

ship and the HIFR fuel nozzle in order to continually dissipate

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static electricity. If conductive hose is used, the overall

resistance shall not exceed one megohm.

NOTE: If a metallic bonding path is used, and overall resistance

is in excess of 100 ohms, this is an indication of a breakdown in
electrical continuity.

i. If required, an inward vent valve may be provided near the

aircraft end of the HIFR hose so that fuel can be drained from
the hose after the fuelling operation has been completed.

j. A non-return valve shall be incorporated to prevent fuel from

being siphoned from the aircraft.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT

3. This STANAG is implemented when a nation has ensured that all

HIFR equipment complies with the specifications detailed herein and has
issued to its forces the required orders of instruction.

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