Fri, Apr 08, 2011
Testing Program Continuing With 1,400 Hours, Over 450 Flights
In The Books
EADS and Airbus have concluded contract amendment negotiations
with OCCAR and the seven A400M launch customer nations. The
contract amendment was signed today in Seville by Patrick
Bellouard, Director of OCCAR – Executive Agency, and Airbus
Military CEO Domingo Ureña, in the presence of Spanish
Minister of Defence Carme Chacón. National armament
directors and other representatives from customer nations also
attended the ceremony.
The Contract Amendment now implements the changes which were
agreed in principle by the Participating Nations with EADS and
Airbus Military in the Frame Agreement signed on 5th March 2010.
“This is a major milestone, and EADS is particularly proud to
have the support of all governments involved in this cooperation
program that represents a strategic capacity for Europe and its
defence, and for the new generation of military transport
worldwide," said EADS CEO Louis Gallois.
“From an industrial point of view, the program is on
track. This enabled us to agree, with full confidence on the
industrial go-ahead of the program over a month ago,“ said
Domingo Ureña, Airbus Military CEO. “We are also very
satisfied with the progress of the Flight Test program which
confirms day by day the soundness of the aircraft. Also, all the
pilots of the Air Forces who have already tried and flown the
aircraft, expressed great satisfaction about its agility and
capabilities. We are sure that, once it gets better known, many
more Air Forces around the world will be keen to have it in their
fleets.”
With four aircraft flying, the A400M has achieved over 1,400
test flight hours and close to 450 flights. The fifth aircraft is
complete and has started the final control phase prior to a first
flight in early Fall. Civil Certification is to be achieved before
year end, and first delivery to first operator – the French
Air Force – by the turn of the year 2012 / early 2013. Airbus
Military holds 174 firm orders from eight nations, the seven launch
nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemburg, Spain, Turkey and the
UK) for 170, plus four for Malaysia.
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