Iberia Converts Passenger Aircraft Into Mid-Air Refuelling Tanker

Madrid, Spain (SPX) Mar 18, 2011 -Iberia has converted an Airbus A330-200 passenger airliner into a Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), equipped for mid-air refuelling. It was the first time such a complex task has been performed in Spain, where Iberia maintenance and engineering teams completed it in a record 16 months.

After yesterday's final flight test, the aircraft, belonging to the Saudi Arabian air force, was delivered by Iberia to Airbus Military.

The aircraft was flown in November, 2009 from the Airbus plant in Toulouse, France to Iberia's Madrid maintenance installations, where it was equipped to carry fuel, and deliver it in mid-air to other aircraft, and also to receive fuel from other tankers in flight. Hose and funnel mid-air refuelling systems were installed on both wings and on the fuselage along with a fly-by-wire control device.

First the aircraft was disassembled to allow structural modifications to be made, followed by functional tests both on the ground and in the air. The transformation of the A330 into an MRTT was completed with the configuration of the interior.

Iberia's engineers and technicians spent 140,000 man-hours on the conversion of the A330, during which they modified 5,500 system components, making structural changes to 2,000 parts. An additional 58.5 km. of wiring was installed, including 1,000 metres each of coaxial cable and fibre optic cable.

The collaboration agreement between Iberia Maintenance and Airbus Military to convert civilian aircraft into MRTTs reflects the Spanish company's strategy of reorienting its maintenance business towards technologically challenging and high value-added activities.

Iberia's EVP Maintenance and Engineering, Jose Luis Ruiz de Castaneda, said: "it is a great satisfaction for us to have successfully completed a project which is certainly the b! iggest c hallenge we have ever faced in the transformation of aircraft".

Iberia has more than 20 years of experience in the maintenance of military aircraft. In addition to the inspection and repair of the Pegasus engines used in Harrier VTOL fighters, it maintains Boeing 707s and P3-Orion sea rescue craft for the Spanish armed forces. It has also serviced the aircraft used by the heads of state of such countries as Argentina and Turkmenistan.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bring out the PLA Yak Cavalry! We are Doom!

Image
China Defense Blog This is the blog of China defense, where professional analysts and serious defense enthusiasts share findings on a rising military power. Monday, October 03, 2011 Bring out the PLA Yak Cavalry! We are Doom! Posted by tyan at 3:33 PM Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook 0comments: Post a Comment Older Post Home Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) Blog Archive 2011 (325) October (3) Bring out the PLA Yak Cavalry! We are Doom! Photo of the day: First official photo of the new... Stupid PRC PR of the day: The march of the Centra... September (34) GC of the day: Songbird's classic Watching sport on a big screen TV. Land Based HQ16 VLS SAM has entered service, conf... China buys Basler BT-67 (yes, a DC3) An update on the CJ-1000A high bypass ratio turb... A Chinese Heart for Large Civilian and Military ... First simulated confrontation drill between Chines...
Keep reading

Raytheon UK to Supply Mode S MSSR Systems to Romania

Image
Paris, France (SPX) Jun 24, 2011 -Raytheon has been selected to supply Mode S Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR) systems to the Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration, ROMATSA. Under the contract, signed in Bucharest, Raytheon UK will provide dual-channel, Condor Series 300 systems for the en route radar sites at Romania's Henri Coanda (Otopeni) International Airport, Constanta International Airport and Arad International Airport during a 20-month program. "In order to meet European Union requirements regarding air safety, quality and security, ROMATSA will install Mode S MSSR systems produced by Raytheon, for the first time on the Romanian territory," said Adrian Remus Serban, operations director, ROMATSA. "Taking into consideration the tradition of this company and the quality of their equipment, we are convinced that these modern radar systems will live up to our expectations." Richard Daniel, Raytheon U.K. director, Defence and Program Leade...
Keep reading

Indian Developments in Materials for Military Aero Engines

Image
The Indian aircraft industry is still in its nascent stages of growth. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the only significant player, manufacturing aircraft and engines, albeit under license production. Even so, most of the materials and material technologies have been sourced from the original manufacturers (OEMs) of the engines and aircraft. In the recent past, a number of new material technologies have been recently introduced which are required in the production of Sukhoi aircraft (Su-30) and its engine (AL31FP). Kaveri, the proposed engine for LCA Tejas is the only programme which aims to design and develop indigenous engine and also to develop indigenous capabilities in the areas of materials and manufacturing technologies. In a sense, the development of indigenous material technologies in India is linked to Kaveri programme. Assessment of materials and manufacturing technologies presented here is largely based on the Kaveri experience in which many industries and research l...
Keep reading