Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
On the A400M programme, five aircraft were delivered in the first half of 2016. The European Aviation Safety Agency certified an interim fix to the engine propeller gearbox (PGB) which, once available, will give air forces at least 650 flight hours before initial inspections of the affected parts of the PGB. The first major development milestone of the mission capability roadmap defined with customers earlier this year was successfully completed in June with certification and delivery of ‘MSN 33’, the 9th aircraft for the French customer. Industrial efficiency and military capability remain a challenge for the A400M programme. Furthermore, the EASA’s Airworthiness Directive, linked to the PGB on the engine, and various PGB quality issues have strongly impacted the customer delivery programme. Management has subsequently reviewed the programme evolution and estimated contract result incorporating the implications at this time of the revised engine programme and its associated recovery plan, technical issues related to the aluminium alloy used for some parts within the aircraft, recurring cost convergence issues and finally some delays, escalation and cost overruns in the development programme. As a result of the review, including an updated assumption of export orders during the launch contract phase, Defence and Space recorded an additional net charge of € 1,026 million. Commercial negotiations with OCCAR and the Nations are yet to take place with regard to the revised delivery schedule and its implications. As of today, the outcome of these negotiations cannot be reliably estimated. The potential impacts on the financial statements could be significant.
Airbus (AIR.PA) put a brave face on plans by France and Germany - the two main buyers of its troubled A400M military transporter - to operate an extra fleet of rival U.S. planes, saying it would spur European co-operation.
The two countries agreed this week to study a joint tactical airlift pool of Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) C-130J aircraft alongside the delayed A400M, with Germany looking at buying 4-6 U.S. troop planes on top of four ordered by France.
This puts a dent in longstanding plans for a fully European airlift capability around the A400M, and comes against a backdrop of tough negotiations with Airbus over delay penalties.
Germany's military initially planned to operate only A400M transport planes once its C-160 Transall is retired in 2021, but studies later suggested it would need extra planes that could land on rough terrain more easily than the bulkier A400M.
Hoke insisted that the A400M could land everywhere that a Boeing (BA.N) C-17 transporter, C-130 or C-160 could.
Airbus A400M -180 44 T.23-01/31-21 Fuerza Aérea Española delivery 01dec16 SVQ-ZAZ ex A4M044
jupiter2 wrote:With that seating arrangement, it would be an interesting process evacuating in an emergency.
TK105 wrote:Turkish Army is using A400M for transfering personel for Operation EuphratesShield.
AirlineCritic wrote:Hmm. Forces of darkness on their way to a mission?
Airbus Defence and Space has delivered to the German Air Force its first A400M transport aircraft qualified for tactical operations and able to fly in areas subject to military threats.
The aircraft is the sixth A400M in German service and the first with the new capabilities in addition to the world-leading performance of all A400Ms as strategic transports. All aircraft will be retrofitted to the new standard and receive subsequent enhancements as those are certified.
Key aspects of the aircraft’s latest capabilities are improvements in its self-defence systems, ability to air-drop cargo loads, and paratrooping. Additionally it can operate on unprepared runways, fly as low as 150ft above the ground, refuel other aircraft as a tanker, and safely take-off and land in extremely high temperatures.
Germany is in talks with several countries, including the Czech Republic and Switzerland, about jointly operating a large number of the 13 Airbus A400M military transport planes it had planned to sell, a German newspaper reported.
WIederling wrote:Some announcements around that Ms v.d.Leyen will go to Lithuania by A400M.
https://www.ndr.de/info/nachrichten287.html
abortive to loosing an engine.
Triebwerkschaden an von der Leyens A400M
Vilnius: Der Besuch von Verteidigungsministerin von der Leyen in Litauen ist mit einer technischen Panne zu Ende gegangen. Gleich bei ihrer ersten Dienstreise mit einem modernen A400M-Transportflugzeug fiel ein Triebwerk aus. Die Maschine musste nach Angaben des Verteidigungsministeriums auf dem Flughafen im litauischen Kaunas stehen bleiben. Von der Leyen und ihre Delegation fliegen mit einer älteren Transall-Maschine zurück nach Berlin. Die Verteidigungsministerin hatte in Litauen das von der Bundeswehr geführte Nato-Bataillon besucht. Dabei betonte sie, das baltische Land sei geschützt vom größten Militärbündnis aller Zeiten. Dem Nato-Gefechtsverband in Litauen gehören insgesamt 1.000 Soldaten an; knapp die Hälfte davon stellt die Bundeswehr.
Der Google wrote:Engine damage to the Leyens A400M
Vilnius: The visit of Defense Minister Leyen in Lithuania has come to an end with a technical breakdown. A jet engine fell out just like her first mission with a modern A400M
transport aircraft. According to the Ministry of Defense, the aircraft had to stop at the airport in Kaunas, Lithuania. Leyen and their delegation fly back to Berlin with an older Transall machine. The Minister of Defense had visited the NATO battalion led by the Bundeswehr in Lithuania. She emphasized that the Baltic country was protected by the greatest military alliance ever. The NATO Combat Federation in Lithuania has a total of 1,000 soldiers; Almost half of it represents the Bundeswehr.
Revelation wrote:Schade...
WIederling wrote:Rumor has it that the Luftwaffe disassembled their new toys to have hands on experience
WIederling wrote:Why is it that French A400M seem to perform like clockwork
while Germany portrays a disaster in the making.
some political shenanigans in the works?
There is a reason the lady is nicknamed Ulla von der Lügen.
VSMUT wrote:WIederling wrote:Why is it that French A400M seem to perform like clockwork
while Germany portrays a disaster in the making.
some political shenanigans in the works?
There is a reason the lady is nicknamed Ulla von der Lügen.
It's not just the A400M. The German NH-90s, EF2000s and Tigres are also full of problems that many other operators don't have.
Balerit wrote:Engines 1 & 4 have an unpainted access panel over the gearbox, anyone know why?
Airbus (AIR.PA) called for new talks with European governments to ease "heavy penalties" for delays to its A400M military aircraft on Wednesday, after taking a fresh 1.2-billion-euro ($1.3 billion) charge in the latest blow to Europe's largest defense project.
Chief Executive Tom Enders told reporters the aerospace group was still paying for the "original sin" of striking an unrealistic procurement deal when the plane was launched in 2003.
Airbus won a 3.5 billion euro bailout from seven European NATO nations in 2010 after being saddled with liability for wild cost overruns on its engines.
KarelXWB wrote:A400M program takes another $1.3 billion charge:Airbus (AIR.PA) called for new talks with European governments to ease "heavy penalties" for delays to its A400M military aircraft on Wednesday, after taking a fresh 1.2-billion-euro ($1.3 billion) charge in the latest blow to Europe's largest defense project.
Chief Executive Tom Enders told reporters the aerospace group was still paying for the "original sin" of striking an unrealistic procurement deal when the plane was launched in 2003.
Airbus won a 3.5 billion euro bailout from seven European NATO nations in 2010 after being saddled with liability for wild cost overruns on its engines.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbu ... SKBN1610MD
Grizzly410 wrote:Monday took place the MSN53 ToT with French Air Force (F-RBAK). I understand it's a 2016 delivery for Airbus D&S, so a total of 18 frames delivered in 2016.
A400M: 17 a/c delivered FY16. 2 a/c YTD 2017.
Grizzly410 wrote:Where did you read that Karel ?
I've been told 22.
The first A400M entered service with the French air force in 2013, years late, and problems persisted. Mr. Enders last year promised to deliver at least 20 A400Ms in 2016. Airbus shipped 17.
Revelation wrote:I guess Keesje's vision of it all being peaches and cream at Airbus isn't 100% accurate.
Dutchy wrote:Nationaal ruimte en luchtvaart laboratorium are involved in this. Guess that's why.
In Dutch, with a nice clip of the A400 arriving. It supposed to be gone again. https://www.upinthesky.nl/2017/03/21/a4 ... ld-twente/
Didn't know Twenthe Airport was semi-operational.
SCAT15F wrote:Maybe AB is already doing this, but is the A400M being offered in a civilian/commercial cargo version?
Grizzly410 wrote:Europrop would have to drastically improve on reliability before anyone consider hanging its TP400 on another platform.
WIederling wrote:Grizzly410 wrote:Europrop would have to drastically improve on reliability before anyone consider hanging its TP400 on another platform.
Please turn to Avio's new owner GE.
Revelation wrote:Please give us some evidence that GE's investment in Avio will lead to commercial levels of reliability for the TP400.
WIederling wrote:Afaics we didn't see such a pronounced problem with the "zero" series test frames.