Issue 62 – October 22, 2009

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

•	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

EADS advanced refueling boom transfers fuel from Australian A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport to F-16 fighter

The EADS A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport – currently in production for four allied nations – marked another major performance milestone with the first in-flight refueling performed from the Royal Australian Air Force A330 MRTT utilizing its integrated Aerial Refueling Boom System.

The contacts and subsequent fuel transfers were made with two F-16 receiver aircraft and validated the advanced ARBS handling qualities, precision, and stability on the A330 MRTT, as well as the capabilities of its 3-D vision system. The flight lasted four hours and 30 minutes, with more than 3,300 pounds of fuel transferred during 13 contacts.

EADS’ fly-by-wire ARBS is one of the key technological discriminators for the A330 MRTT and Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 offering to the U.S. Air Force, providing the only digital, all-electric fly-by-wire refueling system available today.

The ARBS has already made more than 250 wet and dry contacts with a wide range of receiver aircraft, in a full range of operating conditions and throughout the flight envelope, while the boom was deployed on an EADS test-bed aircraft.

The RAAF’s A330 MRTT is similar in configuration to Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 Tanker offered for the U.S. Air Force to recapitalize its aging aerial refueling fleet. Both aircraft are equipped with the EADS ARBS, plus a pair of all-digital Cobham 905E refueling pods under the wings. 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. The KC-45 also offers a centerline hose-and-drogue fuselage refueling unit.

The boom’s maximum nominal fuel flow rate is 1,200 U.S. gallons per minute, while the pods can deliver up to 420 gallons of fuel per minute. Aerial refueling operations are controlled from a state-of-the-art Remote Aerial Refueling Operator console in the cockpit behind the pilots, incorporating the enhanced vision system with laser infrared lighting and high-definition digital stereoscopic viewing.

EADS North America is a principal teammate on Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 Tanker program, and is responsible for delivering the aircraft platform, which will be produced at a new aerospace center of excellence to be built in Mobile, Alabama.

Airbus Military, an EADS company, is responsible for the design and production of the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport for international customers, which today includes Australia, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Orders from those countries total 28 aircraft. The A330 MRTT has won all of the international competitions for new-generation aerial tankers since 2004.

The RAAF will receive its first of five A330 MRTTs in 2010, two of which have completed conversion and currently are in flight test. Upon delivery to the RAAF, they will be designated the KC-30A.

The A330's popularity confirmed with new commercial orders and deliveries

New orders and sustained deliveries are underscoring the continued operating value, payload capability and efficiency of the A330 jetliner – on which Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 for the U.S. Air Force is based.

A total of seven A330s were delivered during the month of September, including another airframe for conversion to the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport configuration, along with passenger aircraft for US Airways, Pegasus Aviation leasing (for Oman Air, a new A330 operator in 2009) and AirAsiaX.

Recent new bookings for the A330 include two additional orders by Turkish cargo carrier MNG Airlines for the A330-200F Freighter.  MNG Airlines is a repeat customer for this cargo version of the A330-200 jetliner, having signed a contract for its initial two A330-200Fs in 2007.

First A330-200F Freighter is readied for its maiden flight

The no. 1 A330-200 Freighter is being readied for its maiden flight, marking the debut of another capable aircraft derived from the same A330-200 platform as Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 Tanker.

This mid-size, long-haul cargo aircraft has been painted in its commercial livery and is now being readied for ground tests that will lead to a first takeoff in November.
The A330-200F is equipped with a 141x101-inch cargo door on the forward fuselage – which also is included in the KC-45’s configuration – and has benefitted from an extensive weight saving initiative throughout its development, which is expected to translate into at least 1,100 lbs. more payload than the initially-published specifications.

A total of 67 firm orders have been booked for the A330-200F from nine customers, providing a highly efficient new-generation freighter to replace aging cargo aircraft that are in use worldwide.  

Certification of the A330-200F is expected during the spring of 2010, with the first delivery to follow in the summer.

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