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We made contact with an industry connection who is a certified A330 check captain to talk about the preliminary BEA report on AF447. Take a listen, it is uncomfortable feedback.
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The first Airbus A330 MRTT new generation tanker/transport for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) left Madrid at 10h00 local time on its ferry flight to Australia.
Designated the KC-30A by the RAAF, the aircraft is scheduled to arrive at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland on Monday 30 May, and to be formally handed over to the customer in the next few days. On its ferry flight, the A330 MRTT is being flown by Airbus Military and RAAF crews, and will transit via McCarran Las Vegas and Hickam AFB (Hawaii).
The aircraft is the second A330 converted by Qantas Defence Services in Brisbane, and it was returned to Madrid for painting and finishing. The A330 will be joined by the second aircraft for the RAAF in June, and two further aircraft later in the year. The fifth and final aircraft ordered by the RAAF, which arrived in Brisbane for conversion a few days ago, will be delivered next year.
The arrival of the aircraft at RAAF Amberley follows an extensive development and test programme for what is currently the only certified and flying new generation tanker/transport. Civil Supplemental Type Certificate was obtained in March 2010, and the military certification in October.
In RAAF service the A330 MRTT is equipped with two underwing refuelling pods, the fly-by-wire Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), and a Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) enabling it to be refuelled from another tanker. The aircraft is powered by two GE CF6-80Es, includes a comprehensive defensive aids suite (DAS) and fitted with 270 passenger seats.
The A330-200 long range jetliner was delivered to Qatar Airways. More than 1,080 aircraft have been ordered and 280 are still to be delivered. Production rates are currently seven aircraft per month and this is due to increase to eight per month by the beginning of 2008 and nine per month by the middle of 2009.
The A330-200 long range jetliner was delivered to Qatar Airways. More than 1,080 aircraft have been ordered and 280 are still to be delivered. Production rates are currently seven aircraft per month and this is due to increase to eight per month by the beginning of 2008 and nine per month by the middle of 2009.
Geoffrey Thomas at ATW reports that Boeing is tight-lipped about plans for a freighter models based on the 767-200/300 and derived from its entry in the USAF KC-X tanker competition. These plans are in order to counter the A330-200F, which has 32 orders this year. Boeing is looking to match the A330-200F's 69 ton payload over 3,200 nm. The current 767-300F can carry 55 tons over a similar distance.
He reports Boeing may have two offerings, a 767-200LRF and a -300LRF, with the former carrying less payload over greater distances (building on the nonstop appeal of the 777-200F). Boeing has said its entry in the USAF competition will be "an advanced derivative of the future 767-200 Long Range Freighter and will be produced at Boeing's facilities in Everett." According to Geoff's sources, the flight deck will be based on the 777 rather than the 767-400ER and the aircraft will feature heavier undercarriage and flaps and possibly the increased (by 14.3 ft.) wingspan and raked wingtips of the 767-400ER. No new engine technology has been mentioned, though we have speculated on this.
Such a move by Boeing reflects on its flexibility to tweak established designs to extract better performance. It will be difficult to enable the 767 to compete with the A330F – but given Airbus' woes at present, a 100% match is not necessary. As UPS demonstrated recently, the 767 remains a viable freighter.
CIT Group signed a firm contract with Airbus in December 2006 for five long range A330 widebodies, as well as ten A320 Family aircraft. The repeat order by CIT underlines strong demand for the Airbus A330 and the A320 in the leasing market. To date CIT has placed firm orders for a total of 142 Airbus aircraft, including 112 A320s, 25 A330s and five A350s. Of these, 73 have been delivered so far.
This order also continues to underscore Airbus strength essentially being in these two planes. Its other offerings, especially the A340 is not getting any attention. Airbus is clearly in great need of broadening its offerings. The A350XWB can't come fast enough.
CIT Group signed a firm contract with Airbus in December 2006 for five long range A330 widebodies, as well as ten A320 Family aircraft. The repeat order by CIT underlines strong demand for the Airbus A330 and the A320 in the leasing market. To date CIT has placed firm orders for a total of 142 Airbus aircraft, including 112 A320s, 25 A330s and five A350s. Of these, 73 have been delivered so far.
This order also continues to underscore Airbus strength essentially being in these two planes. Its other offerings, especially the A340 is not getting any attention. Airbus is clearly in great need of broadening its offerings. The A350XWB can't come fast enough.
French officials scrambled Monday to fix a misunderstanding with the Saudis after prematurely announcing a deal to supply Saudi Arabia with refueling aerial tankers. First the French defense ministry announced that the French Defence Minister and the Saudi Crown Prince had signed a strategically important agreement to supply Airbus MRTT tankers in a deal worth ~400 million euros.
Two hours later the French released a second statement, changing course: "Discussions between France and Saudi Arabia relating to the contract for MRTT are continuing." The French U-turn seems driven by fears of breaching Saudi sensitivities over the timing of an announcement. Recall the Saudis reaction to British concerns with graft on the Typhoon order. Probably the Saudis are also concerned how Washington will see this order.
MRTT is the Multi-Role Tanker Transport, based on the A330, and known in the US as the KC-30 for the USAF tanker competition. EADS says the deal related to two tankers and declined to comment further. Airbus has yet to fly a fully equipped MRTT but said last month that its boom system had been flown and tested on a A310. Canada has two A310-based MRTTs and Germany three.
Another A330-based MRTT customer is the Royal Australian Air Force which ordered five. Britain is also negotiating with EADS to use A330 MRTTs for refueling Royal Air Force planes under a 27-year outsourcing contract.
The Saudis enjoy playing vendors off against each other. But Saudi Arabia will find Washington a much cooler place (with Democrats in charge) to visit when this tanker deal is finally announced. After selecting the Typhoon and now the MRTT, people in Congress and the Pentagon will feel slighted – these orders appear ungrateful to the US which has defended the, if not corrupt, then suspect Saudis. Large amounts of terror money is invariably traced back to Saudis. Perhaps these orders going to Europe reflect a growing belief in Saudi Arabia that Europe's increasingly Muslim population naturally makes for better allies.
French officials scrambled Monday to fix a misunderstanding with the Saudis after prematurely announcing a deal to supply Saudi Arabia with refueling aerial tankers. First the French defense ministry announced that the French Defence Minister and the Saudi Crown Prince had signed a strategically important agreement to supply Airbus MRTT tankers in a deal worth ~400 million euros.
Two hours later the French released a second statement, changing course: "Discussions between France and Saudi Arabia relating to the contract for MRTT are continuing." The French U-turn seems driven by fears of breaching Saudi sensitivities over the timing of an announcement. Recall the Saudis reaction to British concerns with graft on the Typhoon order. Probably the Saudis are also concerned how Washington will see this order.
MRTT is the Multi-Role Tanker Transport, based on the A330, and known in the US as the KC-30 for the USAF tanker competition. EADS says the deal related to two tankers and declined to comment further. Airbus has yet to fly a fully equipped MRTT but said last month that its boom system had been flown and tested on a A310. Canada has two A310-based MRTTs and Germany three.
Another A330-based MRTT customer is the Royal Australian Air Force which ordered five. Britain is also negotiating with EADS to use A330 MRTTs for refueling Royal Air Force planes under a 27-year outsourcing contract.
The Saudis enjoy playing vendors off against each other. But Saudi Arabia will find Washington a much cooler place (with Democrats in charge) to visit when this tanker deal is finally announced. After selecting the Typhoon and now the MRTT, people in Congress and the Pentagon will feel slighted – these orders appear ungrateful to the US which has defended the, if not corrupt, then suspect Saudis. Large amounts of terror money is invariably traced back to Saudis. Perhaps these orders going to Europe reflect a growing belief in Saudi Arabia that Europe's increasingly Muslim population naturally makes for better allies.
