22 February, 2019: The certification flight tests for the A400M Cargo Hold Tanks (CHT) refuelling unit has been successfully completed by Airbus. This takes a new step towards the full certification of the aircraft for air-to-air refuelling operations as a tanker.
Airbus collaborated with the Spanish Air Force Test Centre (CLAEX) for this campaign and featured a total of nine flights where 90 tonnes of fuel were dispensed to Spanish Air Force F-18 receivers and to an A400M prototype as a representative heavy aircraft receiver.
Included in the test campaign were the development and certification of the Cargo Hold Tanks with the latest Fuel Quantity Management System software which is to be certified during 2019, improving the night refuelling vision system and preliminary testing of helicopter air-to-air refuelling capabilities.