Newsletter Archive

Issue 70 – March 4, 2010

• The U.K.'s second A330 strategic tanker aircraft achieves a new preparation milestone
• Hong Kong Airlines will order six A330-200 jetliners

Issue 69 – February 4, 2010

• EADS tanker program affirms maturity with refueling of NATO AWACS aircraft
• A330-200F freighter deliveries to begin this Fall

Issue 68 – January 11, 2010

• The A330 confirms its military airlift capabilities in global deployments
• Expanding the A330 customer base with new orders and commitments

Issue 67 – November 23, 2009

• EADS tanker program achieves key milestone by simultaneously transferring fuel to two fighter aircraft
• Initial Royal Saudi Air Force A330 MRTT is delivered for conversion as a multi-role tanker transport
• The A330 is first airliner to be certified for ETOPS "beyond 180 minutes"
• New commitments expand the A330's commercial customer base

Issue 66 – November 12, 2009

• EADS tanker program demonstrates A330 MRTT’s maturity with airborne fuel transfer utilizing hose and drogue system

Issue 65 – November 9, 2009

• EADS Tanker program marks new milestone with nighttime refueling from Royal Australian Air Force A330 MRTT
• A330-200F cargo aircraft makes its maiden flight

Issue 64 – October 30, 2009

• EADS A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport arrives in U.S.

Issue 63 – October 27, 2009

• Congressional letter on Air Force tanker draft RFP sent to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
• "Check-the-box gamesmanship"

Issue 62 – October 22, 2009

• EADS advanced refueling boom transfers fuel from Australian A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport to F-16 fighter
• The A330's popularity confirmed with new commercial orders and deliveries
• First A330-200F Freighter is readied for its maiden flight

Issue 61 – August 26, 2009

• Australia's second A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport achieves successful "power on" milestone
• New sales and delivery milestones for the A330

Issue 60 – July 28, 2009

• Saudi Arabia doubles its order for EADS Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft
• First A330-200F freighter advances through its final assembly process

Issue 59 – July 15, 2009

• First A330 delivered for conversion as the U.K.'s Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
• EADS tanker expertise highlighted by the A310 MRTT's service with the Canadian Forces

Issue 58 – July 9, 2009

• EADS' advanced aerial refueling boom system for Northrop Grumman's KC-45 performs nighttime contacts with NATO F-16
• New order and delivery activity boost the A330's worldwide presence

Issue 57 – June 29, 2009

• EADS delivers its third A330 MRTT platform for the Royal Australian Air Force
• New airline business further expands the A330 order book

Issue 56 – June 11, 2009

• The U.K.'s no. 1 Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft makes its initial flight

Issue 55 – June 9, 2009

• Up in the air on refueling; U.S. needs to modernize aging aerial tanker fleet

Issue 54 – June 3, 2009

• EADS' A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport marks key milestone with first contacts using hose and drogue refueling pods

Issue 53 – May 14, 2009

• EADS' A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport concludes key boom flight test milestone
• Payload/range capabilities to be further improved for the A330-200
• First fuselage section shipped for the A330-200F freighter

Issue 52 – April 28, 2009

• EADS’ A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport demonstrates refueling compatibility with the C-135/KC-135 tanker
• The A330’s global operating base expands with new airline deliveries

Issue 51 – March 4, 2009

• A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport production marks a milestone with first wingset deliveries for the U.K.’s Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
• German Air Force A310 Multi-Role Tanker Transport supports the deployment of Eurofighters to India
• Another milestone order for the A330-200, on which the KC-45 and A330 MRTT are based

Issue 50 – January 28, 2009

• The Royal Australian Air Force’s A330 MRTT performs multiple contacts as a receiver aircraft
• A third airframe is delivered for outfitting as a Royal Australian Air Force A330 MRTT
• Orders surpass the 1,000 mark for the A330 aircraft, on which the KC-45 and A330 MRTT are based

Issue 49 – November 6, 2008

• EADS’ A310 MRTT refuels the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft
• Sales and deliveries remain strong for the KC-45 Tanker’s A330 civil jetliner version
• 100-employee milestone reached at the Mobile, Alabama Engineering Center

Issue 48 – August 7, 2008

• EADS’ advanced refueling boom concludes its test and validation phase
• The A330 Family order book continues to increase

Issue 47 - July 24, 2008

• EADS’ Air Refueling Boom System for the KC-45 Tanker demonstrates its capabilities with an AWACS aircraft

Issue 46 - July 22, 2008

• New sales spur another increase in production for the KC-45 Tanker’s A330-200 airframe
• Manufacturing begins for the first A330-200F freighter

Issue 45 - July 18, 2008

• Conversion begins for the Royal Australian Air Force’s no. 2 Multi-Role Tanker Transport
• EADS and Northrop Grumman CEOs underscore their KC-45 Tanker commitment

Issue 44 - June 30, 2008

• The KC-45 Tanker’s advanced aerial refueling boom completes its 100th test flight
• Sales and deliveries maintain the A330’s market edge in 2008

Issue 43 - May 23, 2008

• The U.S. Air Force's second KC-45 airframe is ready for tanker modification

Issue 42 - May 19, 2008

• June 28 groundbreaking ceremony for the KC-45A Tanker industrial facility
• New commercial bookings expand the A330’s customer base and backlog

Issue 41 - March 27, 2008

• EADS tankers to serve the U.K.’s Royal Air Force in aerial refueling and transport missions
• New York-based CIT Aerospace orders five more A330-200s

Issue 40 - March 3, 2008

• U.S. Air Force selects the Northrop Grumman-led industrial team to supply KC-45A tankers

Issue 39 - February 26, 2008

• United Arab Emirates orders the A330 MRTT air-to-air refueling aircraft from EADS
• Final assembly underway for the no. 2 KC-30 Tanker
• The KC-30 is designed to meet or exceed KC-X program Key Performance Parameters
• A new order for A330-200 Freighters

Issue 38 - February 19, 2008

• The KC-30 Tanker offers more than $55 billion savings in USAF's KC-X tanker replacement program

Issue 37 - February 15, 2008

• Phase 1 flight testing is completed with the Royal Australian Air Force's no. 1 A330 MRTT
• Hawaiian Airlines signs firm order for six A330-200s

Issue 36 - January 28, 2008

• Refueling system for the Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker completes major flight test milestones
• A330-200 Freighter order volume expands with another U.S. customer's booking

Issue 35 - January 24, 2008

• A professional boomer's viewpoint of the EADS Aerial Refueling Boom System

Issue 34 - January 14, 2008

• Airbus A330 Freighters to be assembled at Mobile, Alabama facility

Issue 33 - January 3, 2008

• EADS Selected by Saudi Arabia to provide A330 Multi-role Tanker/Transport (MRTT) in latest competitive succes

Issue 32 - December 10, 2007

• First receiver aircraft contacts made with EADS' Aerial Refueling Boom System

Issue 31 - November 29, 2007

• US Airways, Hawaiian Airlines join other customers in agreements for 70 new A330s
• Hainan Airlines becomes the latest A330 operator

Issue 30 - November 7, 2007

• Competition works: Commentary by Fox News military analyst Tom McInerney

Issue 29 - October 30, 2007

• The Facts on the Air Force Tanker: A letter from Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, and Representative Jo Bonner

Issue 28 - October 23, 2007

• Aerial refueling center of excellence is planned in West Virginia for the Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker
• Five additional A330-200s to be acquired by Grupo Marsans

Issue 27 - October 9, 2007

• New orders for the A330 from US Airways and Hong Kong Airlines
• Engineering center at the future KC-30 industrial site expands its operations

Issue 26 - September 26, 2007

• The first KC-30 goes from initial assembly to flight in less than 75 days

Issue 25 - September 20, 2007

• The no. 1 KC-30 Tanker aircraft platform nears its first flight

Issue 24 - September 14, 2007

• The KC-30's CF6-80E1 engine passes a key operational milestone
• A new A330 customer with a 20-aircraft order

Issue 23 - September 06, 2007

• Comparison chart highlights operational advantages of the Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker in USAF's KC-X refueling fleet modernization

Issue 22 - August 30, 2007

• The KC-30 Tanker's Aerial Refueling Boom System completes electrostatic discharge tests
• New orders further consolidate the A330-200's commercial success

Issue 21 - August 23, 2007

• Aerial Refueling Boom System for Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker passes flight test milestones
• A330 sales and deliveries remain strong in 2007

Issue 20 - August 6, 2007

• Initial Assembly of the First Northrop Grumman KC-30 Tanker is completed in 30 days
• Honeywell and Knight Aerospace Products join the Northrop Grumman KC-30 industrial team

Issue 19 - July 11, 2007

• EADS Boom System completes major fuel offload test
• A330 sales and deliveries continue at a brisk pace

Issue 18 - July 3, 2007

• First KC-30 Tanker designated for the U.S. Air Force’s refueling fleet modernization begins final aircraft platform assembly
• Brazilian airline TAM to expand its fleet with four more A330-200s

Issue 17 - June 28, 2007

• A "walkaround" of the Royal Australian Air Force's no. 1 KC-30B Multi-Role Tanker Transport

Issue 16 - June 22, 2007

• EADS highlights its aerial refueling capabilities at the 2007 Paris Air Show
• The KC-30B meets the press at Le Bourget
• The A330’s commercial success is boosted by new airline orders

Issue 15 - June 15, 2007

• EADS A330 Tanker Completes First Flight Ahead of Schedule

Issue 14 - June 14, 2007

• EADS rolls out the Royal Australian Air Force's first refueling-equipped KC-30B Tanker
• Germany's A310 MRTT is delivered by EADS equipped with new mission avionics for aerial refueling
• Aerial Refueling Boom System testbed aircraft will be demonstrated at the 2007 Paris Air Show

Issue 13 - June 7, 2007

• EADS Advanced Air Refueling Boom System passes its 100-flight hour milestone
• U.K. Ministry of Defence advances RAF’s A330-200 tanker/transport aircraft program by approving financing initiative
• Ireland’s Aer Lingus orders six more A330s

Issue 12 - May 31, 2007

• A330-200 order book expands with a new contract for the A330-200F freighter
• Colombia’s Avianca joins the growing list of A330-200 customers

Issue 11 - May 17, 2007

• Orders and commitments for the A330-200 Freighter reach the 40 aircraft milestone
• AerCap acquires 10 more A330-200s in a second buy

Issue 10 - May 9, 2007

• The Royal Australian Air Force’s KC-30B Multi-role Tanker Transport moves closer to flight test
• Jet Airways becomes the latest A330-200 operator

Issue 9 - April 25, 2007

• EADS Advanced Air Refueling Boom System logs over 70 flight test hours

Issue 8 - April 19, 2007

• Canadian Forces receives its first refueling-qualified A310 MRTT

Issue 7 - March 29, 2007

• A world-class KC-30 industrial lineup is formed for the U.S. Air Force’s tanker replacement competition

Issue 6 - March 22, 2007

• EADS’ Advanced Refueling Boom and two underwing pods are installed on Australia’s first A330 MRTT
• The A330/A340 order book increases with Finnair’s new order

Issue 5 - March 15, 2007

• The 800th A330/A340 family aircraft is delivered as production rate is increased
• The aviation spirit is alive at Brookley Industrial Complex, the KC-30’s designated production site

Issue 4 - March 08, 2007

• A330 production rate to increase
• AIRMAN maintenance tool selected for US Airways’ expanded fleet
• Twelve new A330s delivered in January-February

Issue 3 - February 28, 2007

• New Airbus engineering center broadens EADS’ presence in North America

Issue 2 - February 21, 2007

• The A330 MRTT is selected by the UAE in its third international win
• First KC-30B for the Royal Australian Air Force marks a major conversion milestone
• Another repeat U.S. customer for the A330

Issue 1 - February 14, 2007

• EADS’ Advanced Refueling Boom System logs more deployed flight time
• The newly-launched A330-200F Freighter builds its worldwide customer base
• 680th sales milestone achieved for the A330 aircraft family