Airbus Military
has received full Type Certification for the A400M new generation airlifter, marking a critical step towards
delivery of the first aircraft to the French Air Force.
Award of the Type Certificate makes the A400M the world’s
first large military transport to be designed and certified to civil standards
from its inception.
Military Initial Operating Clearance is ongoing, paving the
way towards first delivery.
The Type Certificate, was presented to Airbus Military by
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Certification Director Dr. Norbert Lohl.
During the certification program the A400M has undergone
exhaustive testing of its handling qualities throughout the flight envelope in
normal and failure conditions; demonstrated outstanding performance in the heat
of the Gulf, cold of Sweden and Canada, and at the high altitude of La Paz,
Bolivia; and satisfactorily completed more than 300 hours of function and
reliability testing to demonstrate the robustness of its TP400 engines and
systems.
Additionally it has begun tests of more advanced military
functions such as air-to-air refuelling, air-dropping of supplies and
paratroopers, and low-level flight – all with highly encouraging results.
The five-strong fleet of “Grizzly” development aircraft has
now completed some 4,800 hours in the air during more than 1,600 flights and
will continue intensively to expand the A400M’s military capabilities.
Military certification and first delivery to follow soon.
