Qantas to Return Two CIT A330s by End-2015 for MRTT Conversion

10 Juli 2015

Two Airbus A330-200 aircraft have been pending their conversion to MRTT (photo : Aus DoD)

Qantas Airways will return two Airbus A330-200 aircraft to CIT Aerospace by the end of the year, pending their conversion to multi-role tanker transports (MRTT) for the Royal Australian Air Force.

The two airliners bear the registrations VH-EBH (MSN 892) and VH-EBI (MSN 898), says Australia’s Department of Defence (DoD). They will eventually be converted to KC-30As (the RAAF designation for the A330 MRTT) at Airbus Defence and Space’s Getafe, Spain facility, for delivery to the RAAF in 2018.

The DoD confirms that it will assume full ownership of the converted jets.

Qantas says VH-EBH has stopped flying and will be returned to CIT on 21 July. VH-EBI will cease operating in September and be returned to CIT on 20 November.

Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database shows that both jets are powered by General Electric CF6 engines – similar to the RAAF’s existing five KC-30As. VH-EBH was handed over to Qantas in January 2008, and VH-EBI one month later.

Flightglobal Ascend pegs the full-life valuation of each aircraft at $61.7 million.

Airbus says this is the first incidence of in-service A330-200s being converted to the MRTT tanker standard. The work will see the installation of hose and drogue refueling pods under the the aircraft’s wings, a refuelling boom, and other military equipment.

“The two extra aircraft for RAAF were exceptional due to their wish to use basic airframes of a specification very close to their existing fleet, and these two Qantas airframes were available,” says Airbus. “There is no proposal to convert used aircraft for any other customer.”

When contacted by Flightglobal, CIT and Airbus were unable to provide details as to when the aircraft will change hands, but Airbus says an MRTT conversion takes 10-12 months.

According to a DoD statement, the value of the transaction is worth A$408 million ($314 million).

Including the two aircraft due to be returned to CIT, Qantas has 27 A330s: 17 -200s and 10 -300s.

(FlighGlobal)

RAAF to Get Two More Tanker Transports

27 Juni 2015

RAAF KC-30A and F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet (photo : breaking defence)

It appears likely that the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is to acquire two more Airbus Defence A330-based multirole tanker transports (MRTT) to add to its current fleet of five, although no formal confirmation is yet available.

A brief comment to this effect - since removed - appeared on the website of the Spanish Embassy in Canberra on 25 June.

The embassy and an Airbus Defence spokesman subsequently declined any comment to IHS Jane's , as did the office of Minister of Defence Kevin Andrews.

The acquisition of an additional two MRTTs (KC-30A in Australian service) was informally forecast by then defence minister David Johnston in August 2014.

(Jane's)

RAAF Completes Boom Refuelling Trials Between KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport and E-7A Wedgetail

17 Juni 2015

 KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport and E-7A Wedgetail aircraft. (photos : Aus DoD)

Air Force has completed air-to-air refuelling trials between its KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport and E-7A Wedgetail aircraft.

Conducted in airspace off the coast of northern New South Wales from 1-13 June 2015, the trials marked the first time the Wedgetail had refuelled from the KC-30A.

Wing Commander Christian Martin, Commanding Officer of Number 2 Squadron (2SQN), said air-to-air refuelling was a ‘force multiplier’ for the Wedgetail fleet.

“Air-to-air refuelling considerably increases the Wedgetail’s range and endurance, allowing us to provide Command and Control, and Air Battlespace Management over longer periods,” Wing Commander Martin said.

“This has been demonstrated in the Middle East Region under Operation OKRA, where RAAF Wedgetails have used foreign air force tankers to fly extended sorties.

“Once the trial results are assessed an initial clearance is expected to be granted to allow Wedgetail crews to begin refuelling training flights with the KC-30A.”

The trials were conducted by Air Force’s Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) with a 2SQN Wedgetail and Number 33 Squadron (33SQN) KC-30A.

Squadron Leader Ben Goring, Executive Officer of 33SQN, said air-to-air refuelling required both aircraft to fly in close formation at more than 500 kilometres per hour.

“The KC-30A deploys the 17-metre-long Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) from the aft fuselage, which is guided by an Air Refuelling Operator on the KC-30A into a refuelling receptacle on the Wedgetail,” Squadron Leader Goring said.

“Each KC-30A has a fuel capacity of more than 100 tonnes, and can offload fuel via  the ARBS at up to 4500 litres per minute.

“The ARBS on the KC-30A represents a completely new capability for Air Force.”

The KC-30A has already been cleared to refuel Air Force’s fleet of Hornets and Super Hornets using its hose-and-drogue refuelling pods. Since September 2014, KC-30As deployed to Operation OKRA in the Middle East Region have used these pods to deliver more than 10,800 tonnes of fuel to RAAF and Coalition aircraft.

(Aus DoD)