10 JULY 2009
AirTanker is pleased to announce that the first Airbus A330-200 destined to become a British Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) was flown from Airbus Toulouse, France, factory to the Airbus Military facility at Getafe, Spain, on schedule, today.
Airbus Military has built a new, purpose-built, permanent hangar in which the FSTA military conversion work will take place. The conversion of this first aircraft in the FSTA fleet will now commence. This work includes the fitting of military avionics as well as the refuelling capability. The fuel necessary for refuelling operations, as well as for the A330 FSTA itself, will be carried in the same tanks as fitted to the standard Airbus A330 aircraft, leaving the cabin free for transporting approximately 290 personnel, in standard aircraft seats, and the cargo holds free to carry equipment and supplies up to a maximum total payload of 44 tonnes.
Phill Blundell, Chief Executive of AirTanker, said:
I am delighted that another major milestone in the FSTA Programme has been met on time. Everyone involved has worked incredibly hard to achieve this and, across the AirTanker group, we are justifiably proud of our record of hitting deadlines in line with the Programme.
The FSTA programme will replace the RAFs current fleet of VC-10 and TriStar aircraft with 14 converted Airbus A330-200 aircraft, based at RAF Brize Norton, UK. These brand new aircraft will be owned and supported by AirTanker, while the service will be staffed by a mixture of service and civilian personnel.
Source: AirTanker
AirTanker is pleased to announce that the first Airbus A330-200 destined to become a British Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) was flown from Airbus Toulouse, France, factory to the Airbus Military facility at Getafe, Spain, on schedule, today.
Airbus Military has built a new, purpose-built, permanent hangar in which the FSTA military conversion work will take place. The conversion of this first aircraft in the FSTA fleet will now commence. This work includes the fitting of military avionics as well as the refuelling capability. The fuel necessary for refuelling operations, as well as for the A330 FSTA itself, will be carried in the same tanks as fitted to the standard Airbus A330 aircraft, leaving the cabin free for transporting approximately 290 personnel, in standard aircraft seats, and the cargo holds free to carry equipment and supplies up to a maximum total payload of 44 tonnes.
Phill Blundell, Chief Executive of AirTanker, said:
I am delighted that another major milestone in the FSTA Programme has been met on time. Everyone involved has worked incredibly hard to achieve this and, across the AirTanker group, we are justifiably proud of our record of hitting deadlines in line with the Programme.
The FSTA programme will replace the RAFs current fleet of VC-10 and TriStar aircraft with 14 converted Airbus A330-200 aircraft, based at RAF Brize Norton, UK. These brand new aircraft will be owned and supported by AirTanker, while the service will be staffed by a mixture of service and civilian personnel.
Source: AirTanker
