FLIGHT TEST WEEK 'OPEN CONFERENCE' - hosted by Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE)

Running in Auditorium 3 on the Exhibits floor) on 18, 19, 20 Nov 2008


A400M Flight Test Program
Tuesday 18th November 2008
11.00 - 11.30
Auditorium 3

The A400M programme is the result of a commonly expressed need by 8 European air forces. These armed services asked for a new generation military airlifter. Finally the proposal from Airbus was choosen. This was the first military adventure for Airbus Industrie. Althogouh some of the companies partners had previous experience on the military transport business. As in other multinational programs a workshare of the qualification and certificacion task was agreed. An specific organization was stablished. In order to fulfil the requirement of both strategic and tactical mission performance, the A400M will be powered by new-generation TP400-D6 turboprop engines.The TP400-D6 is being developed, manufactured and supported by EuroProp International (EPI), a European joint venture company consisting of Rolls-Royce, Snecma Moteurs, MTU Aero Engines and Industria deTurbopropulsores (ITP).


Most of the parts of the aircraft were built in different Airbus factories all acroos Europe. As part of the workshare agreements the Final Assembly was asigned to Sevilla. Nevertheless the main Flight Test Center remains at Toulouse. One of the more interesting facts is the handling of both civil and military aspects on certification work.


This paper will show the planification of the Flight Test Program in the A400M program. The workshare of the flight testing between Toulouse and Sevilla. The number of prototypes and the different tasks for all of them.


Also the data link that will have to be deployed between the two flight test centers. The organizations responsible for the certification and qualification work will have to stablish a working structure to monitor all the flight testing. The first flight of A400M is scheduled for mid 2008, although this date could vary depending on the progress on the final assembly work.