Airbus test pilots Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo and Tony Flynn are putting the A400M through its full display paces this week, as the company continues to wait on a Spanish military decision on whether to allow it resume flight testing the type for its customers.
Restrictions were imposed following a fatal crash in Seville, Spain on 7 May, and Airbus is now sitting on an increasing stock of newly-manufactured aircraft, which it is unable to fly.
The continuing existence of the precautionary measure has resulted in there now being six completed A400Ms at Airbus Defence & Space’s final assembly site. These include five aircraft for the UK Royal Air Force and one for France. Another two UK examples – which were both supporting defensive aids system testing – are also waiting to return to the sky, from RAF Brize Norton and Getafe in Spain, respectively.
A further consequence of the Spanish military airworthiness authorities’ precautionary stance is that Airbus has not received any payments from its customers while deliveries have been held up.
Once lifted, the block will lead to numerous deliveries being made. Airbus missed a March target to have seven of the Atlas transports in use with the RAF, but in January pledged to achieve this initial operational capability milestone before the end of 2015.
Four Airbus flight test personnel lost their lives and another two were seriously injured when aircraft MSN23 crashed while making its flight debut. It had been scheduled for delivery to the Turkish air force this month.
Initial analysis of flight data and cockpit voice recorders showed that a power-setting problem affecting three of the aircraft’s Europrop International TP400-D6 engines preceded the loss. Airbus has advised current operators France, Germany, Malaysia, Turkey and the UK to check engine electronic control units, and insists that the Atlas is safe to fly. Its three-strong fleet of "Grizzly" development aircraft – including MSN6 which is on show at Le Bourget – have been flying daily.
Source: Flight Daily News
