Issue 61 – August 26, 2009

In this issue of the EADS North America Tanker Activity Update:

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

Australia's second A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport achieves successful "power on" milestone

The second A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for Australia has completed its mission equipment outfitting with a successful “power on” milestone, and is being readied for pre-delivery flight testing.

The aircraft underwent conversion to the A330 MRTT military configuration in Australia. Qantas Engineering performed the mission equipment outfitting at its Brisbane Airport facility with the support of Airbus Military, underscoring the capability of EADS and its subsidiaries to transfer complex industrial processes around the globe.  

One of the key achievements of the “power on” milestone is verifying successful operation of more than 400 installed wiring harnesses – with more than 35 miles of cabling and 1,600 connectors – that go into the MRTT as part of its military modifications.  It is a key step prior to the commencement of ground and flight test of the aerial refueling systems and military avionics.  Following flight test in Australia, the aircraft will fly to Madrid, Spain, for further modifications prior to joining the first MRTT in the certification and qualification flight program.

The Royal Australian Air Force’s A330 MRTT is based on the same general configuration as the Northrop Grumman KC-45 being offered for recapitalization of the U.S. Air Force’s aging tanker fleet.  Both A330-200 aircraft feature EADS’ advanced Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS), along with a pair of 905E under-wing hose-and-drogue air refueling pods.  The KC-45 will also have a hose-and-drogue fuselage refueling unit on the centerline.  This mix of boom and pod refueling technologies ensures the A330 MRTT and KC-45 can transfer fuel to all types of receiver aircraft during a single mission without reconfiguration.

Australia has ordered five A330 MRTTs, the first of which began a highly successful flight-test program in June 2007.  Two of the multi-role platforms will be delivered to Australia in 2010.  As with the second aircraft, the remaining three Australian MRTTs will undergo mission equipment outfitting at the Qantas Engineering facility.  Conversion of the next of these aircraft is already underway.

The successful transfer of these complex industrial capabilities validates a foundational element of the Northrop Grumman KC-45 program for the U.S. Air Force.  The aircraft will be assembled and configured for the U.S. Air Force by EADS North America and Northrop Grumman at a new American aerospace center of excellence that will be constructed in Mobile, Alabama.

New sales and delivery milestones for the A330

The A330 jetliner, from which the A330 MRTT is derived, continues to demonstrate its leadership in a highly competitive marketplace where acquisition decisions are made based on performance, operational reliability and value.

Turkish Airlines has become a repeat customer for the A330, signing a contract for seven A330-300s that will be delivered beginning in September 2010.  These aircraft will be operated on high-capacity medium-haul routes by Turkey’s flag carrier, which already has seven A330-200 versions in operation.

With more than 600 A330s flying with 79 operators worldwide – and a total of over 1,000 orders booked from airline, government and VIP operators around the globe – the A330 is one of the most extensively-used widebody aircraft in service today.  The combined A330 fleet has logged nearly 14 million flight hours.

The A330’s growing order book supports a sustained production of 8.5 aircraft per month – providing the output required to meet worldwide demand for its civil and military versions, and ensuring an active supply chain for the aircraft over the long term.

One of the recent A330 deliveries was an A330-300 version received by Thai Airways International, which marked the milestone 1,000th aircraft from the A330/A340 aircraft family.  Both the twin-engine A330 and its four-engine A340 derivative share the same basic fuselage, wing and tail, while their fly-by-wire cockpits are nearly identical.

Total orders for the A330/A340 family has passed the 1,400 mark from 103 customers, with the combined inventory accumulating more than 27 million flight hours in over 5 million revenue flights.

Contact:
Guy Hicks
Vice President – Communications and Public Relations
EADS North America
Tel: 703 236-3300
e-mail: guy.hicks@eads-na.com