More Tests for A400M

SHAH ALAM: More Tests For Airbus A400M airlifter. Soon after the announcement of the helicopter refueling tests, Airbus on Oct. 7 announced it had conducted further testing of the A400M paratroopers drop capability. In the tests, 80 paratroopers – 40 per one door – were successfully drop from a single past, from the airlifter. The target is to drop 116 paratroopers from a single past – 58 per door – the maximum for the Atlas.

While this may prove useful for 10 Para Brigade, the capability to drop its full load of paratroopers from a single past from the A400M are paramount to other users and of course potential ones.

From Airbus.

The successful dispatch of 80 paratroopers, to date the largest simultaneous deployment from an A400M on a single pass.

The Airbus A400M new generation airlifter has completed the certification flight test for the simultaneous dispatch of 80 (40+40) equipped paratroopers from both side doors on a single pass. Tests were performed in coordination with the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) together with French and Belgian Armed Forces.

The 80 paratroopers dropping to the ground after jumping from the A400M.

The flight test campaign, performed in the Ger Azet drop zone in southern France during daylight, also successfully completed the certification flight test to support the deployment of 58 paratroopers from one side door, the A400M’s maximum dispatch capacity from a single door.

The paratroopers on standby before getting on the A400M.

These major milestones conclude the certification test phase of the paratroop dispatch capability of the A400M, pending on the completion of certification activities in the first half of 2020, and paving the way for the simultaneous deployment of up to 116 paratroopers and the certification for mixed operations.

The A400M dropping the paratroopers for the test drop.

After 9 flights and 564 jumps, the completion of the test campaign concludes a very complex exercise built together with the A400M Customer Nations around the confidence in the aircraft and the highest safety requirements.