Airbus will use its A310 tanker demonstrator to show how to automate the boom refueling process next year.
By pjs2005 (Flickr: IMG_3318) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
The sensor-equipped advanced refueling boom system (ARBS) will automatically position itself over the receiving aircraft’s receptacle and the boom operator just needs to extend and retract the boom.