News Review: MRTT loses boom | ADM Feb 2011

Katherine Ziesing | Canberra

An in-flight incident occurred during a training flight for Airbus Military staff, involving an Australian KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and a Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft in mid-January, according to a Defence announcement.

Airbus Military was operating the aircraft during the incident and no Australian personnel were on board the MRTT at the time of the incident.

The incident resulted in the detachment and partial loss of the refuelling boom from the MRTT, which fell into the sea.

Both aircraft suffered some damage but returned safely to their home airfields. Design, development and testing of the prototype aircraft is being undertaken by Airbus Military at its facilities in Madrid, Spain with the support of a multinational team.

ADM understands that boom impacted the rear part of the MRTT and broke one of the fins of the boom, causing the breakage.

The boom was ditched over the Atlantic Ocean, with Airbus Military satisfied with the performance of the safety systems of the boom.

The boom will be replaced with a spare that was destined for Australia under the spares contract in support of AIR 5402, which will supply five MRTT aircraft and support/spares to the RAAF.

Another spare boom will be manufactured provided under the support package. An Airbus Military spokesman told ADM that they did not expect the incident to affect the MRTT delivery schedule.

Airbus Military and the relevant European military airworthiness authorities will have the lead responsibility for investigating the incident.

Australian Defence experts are also participating in the investigation process.