01 December 2020

Global MRTT users seek to ease certification of US-built receiver aircraft

by Gareth Jennings

The global customer base for the Airbus A330-200 MultiRole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft is to come together to ease the certification requirements for US receiver aircraft types.

A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330 MRTT refuels a Lockheed Martin F-35A during trials. The global user community for the MRTT is to establish a working group to make it easier for US-built aircraft types to receive fuel from the tanker. (US Air Force)

Speaking at the virtual SMi Military Airlift and Air-to-Air Refuelling 2020 conference, Group Captain Doz James, Deputy Air Mobility Force Commander, RAF, said that a user group of the worldwide customer base for the A330 MRTT is being set up to make it easier for US aircraft (and for those nations that operate US-built aircraft) to receive fuel from their tankers.

“We are currently involved with the worldwide MRTT user community to set up a new receiver working group, with the aim of avoiding the repetition of receiver trials particularly with US aircraft and nations that operate US aircraft. This is still very embryonic, but we have just recently written and distributed the first draft set of the terms of reference for that working group,” Gp Capt James said on 1 December.

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