Airbus Military has obtained military and civil certification for the Future Strategic Transport Aircraft (FSTA) version of the A330 MRTT for the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom. This paves the way for first delivery of the aircraft to the RAF in the coming weeks.

The approval was granted by Spanish military certification authority Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Aerospacial (INTA). It follows the civil certification of the FSTA which was awarded by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in July. Together these certifications cover the specific configuration of the UK version of the MRTT and lay the ground for its eventual operation on both the military and civil registers, as currently envisaged by the RAF. It will be known in RAF service as “Voyager”.

The initial configuration which will enter service, and which is covered by the certification, is the two-point aircraft with hose-and-drogue refuelling pods under each wing. The three-point configuration, which also includes a centreline Fuselage Refuelling Unit (FRU will be certified at a later date as contracted.

“It is deeply satisfying to see this FSTA variant of the A330 MRTT receive its certification as per schedule,” said Airbus Military Senior VP Engineering Miguel Angel Morell. “I would like to thank everyone involved in the FSTA programme for their work and look forward to seeing the aircraft being delivered soon.”

EADS press release