News Review: KC-30A tanker passes another certification milestone | ADM Jun 2010

1 June 2010

Airbus Military has completed all the flight tests required for the daylight certification of the new generation hose-and drogue refuelling system on the KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

This paves the way towards the formal military certification of the system from Spain's INTA certification authority during the northern summer.

The KC-30A, based on the A330-200 airliner, is fitted with the Cobham 905 system, which provides refuelling from under-wing pods.

Testing covered all of the flight envelope required to certify the aircraft handling qualities with the hose-and-drogue deployed, and included a wide range of manoeuvres both in free-flight and in coupled mode with Spanish Air Force F-18 fighters.

After achieving civil certification in March, the completion of this flight-test phase is a further major step towards final military certification of the aircraft.

Meanwhile, flight testing of the Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) is also expected to be completed shortly.

To date, a total of 28 A330 MRTTs have been ordered by Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the UK.

Meanwhile, preparations began in May to deliver thousands of items of tooling and spare parts from Europe to Australia to support the MRTT air-to-air refuelling tankers.

Some 4,500 individual components - 500 units of Ground Support and Test equipment and 4,000 spares - will be delivered to 33 Squadron at RAAF Amberley over the next three months.

The equipment will be needed when the first A330 MRTT enters squadron service at Amberley towards the end of the year.

Prime Contractor, Qantas Defence Services (QDS), and Airbus Military have signed a Through Life Support (TLS) Contract under which Airbus, through QDS, will ensure ongoing maintenance support to the A330 MRTT fleet over the next 22 years.

As Prime Contractor, Qantas Defence Services will base some 50 engineering support personnel at RAAF Amberley to manage the Through Life Support programme.

In its Design and Maintenance Support role, Airbus Military will provide QDS with Engineering, Logistics, Technical Data, Supply and Training support services.

It will also assign two Field Service Representatives to 33 Squadron for three years to ensure a smooth entry into service.