Airbus Defence and Space has placed an order for the development and provision of a Full Flight Simulator (FFS) to support the training of crews on the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport.

The contract, signed with Indra of Spain, covers the installation at the Airbus Defence and Space International Training Centre in Seville of a Level D FFS, which is certified to qualify pilots on the A330 MRTT with zero flight time in the real aircraft.

In addition to providing pilot flight-training, the new FFS, which will enter service in the second quarter of 2018, will permit the training of pilots in hose-and-drogue refuelling operations, and to act as a receiver from other tankers.

The company decided to invest in the new capability in order to ensure that a robust training capability is available to meet the needs of the rapidly growing global fleet of A330 MRTTs.

Already 27 aircraft have been delivered to four nations out of 49 on firm order, and the type has been selected by a number of other nations.

Head of Military Aircraft Services, Stephan Miegel said: “This investment will improve the quality of the training that we offer, reduce its cost, and enable us to offer a more comprehensive support product. It offers the opportunity of greatly reducing the amount of aircraft flight hours required to train air-to-air refuelling (AA) crews. We are also examining the most cost-effective way to link the FFS to a Part-Task Trainer that would allow training of complete crews on AAR using the refuelling boom system in addition to hose-and-drogue.”

Acquisition of the FFS will mean that for the first time Airbus Defence and Space will have simulators for its entire range of transport aircraft – CN235, C295, A330 MRTT and A400M.

Press release Airbus