Germany army aviation armament Airbus
November 13 2019 - 3:24 PM
German air force rejects delivery of two Airbus planes
Berlin, Nov 13, 2019 (AFP) - Germany's air force said Wednesday it had
refused delivery of two Airbus A400M transport planes over safety concerns,
saying bolts holding the propellers on some already operational aircraft were
loose.
"The armed forces have decided not to accept two A400Ms due for delivery,"
the Luftwaffe (air force) said in a statement, adding that "our soldiers'
safety in their daily use of the A400M aircraft is top priority for us."
Repeated technical problems have dogged the A400M programme, a turboprop
transport aircraft developed jointly for Belgium, Britain, France, Germany,
Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey.
Now, routine checks on some of the Luftwaffe's 31 planes have found "not
all 24 nuts per propeller had the correct tightening torque," the air force
said.
"If these problems are not identified and corrected, they can cause severe
structural damage to the propeller and shaft," it added.
With each inspection taking around 30 man-hours, the discovery poses
"significant challenges" to 62 Air Transport Squadron, which operates the
A400M.
Additional inspections are needed on the engines, the points where the
motors are attached to the wings, and for cracks in different parts of the
aircraft.
Nevertheless, the Luftwaffe plans to keep flying its existing A400Ms when
they are certified as safe.
"The model has more than proven itself in supplying deployment areas with
personnel and equipment, in air-to-air refuelling, in transport home of
soldiers needing medical treatment and in humanitarian aid missions," notching
up 4,000 flight hours with the air force, it said.
Earlier this year, pan-European aircraft maker Airbus renegotiated contract
terms with the purchasing countries' governments over the huge cost overruns
and delays.
Some 81 A400Ms were in operation by July.
tgb/hmn/wai
AIRBUS GROUP