Airbus A330 MRTT
The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a European aerial refuelling and military transport aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330. A total of 16 countries have placed firm orders for approximately 68 aircraft, of which 51 had been delivered by 30 November 2020.[2] A version of the A330 MRTT, the EADS/Northrop Grumman KC-45, was selected by the United States Air Force for its aerial tanker replacement programme, but the programme was cancelled.
As of 31 January 2024, a total of 78 A330 MRTT had been ordered from Airbus Military. 59 have been delivered, including seven of the ten ordered by NATO's Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF).[194]
Accidents and incidents[edit]
On 19 January 2011, an air refuelling accident occurred between a boom-equipped A330 MRTT and a Portuguese Air Force General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal. Early reports indicated that the boom broke off at the aft end of the boom near the F-16's receptacle, causing the boom to recoil into the MRTT's underside. The boom then became uncontrollable and oscillated until it broke off the boom assembly at the pivot point.[208] Both aircraft were damaged but landed safely.[209] The A330 MRTT involved was an Airbus test aircraft destined for the RAAF, operated by an Airbus crew. At the time of the incident, Airbus had not yet begun deliveries.[208]
On 10 September 2012, an A330 MRTT's refuelling boom detached in flight at an altitude of 27,000 ft (8,200 m) in Spanish airspace.[48][210] The boom separated cleanly at a mechanical joint and fell to the ground, while the tanker landed safely in Getafe without any injuries.[48][210] The fault was attributed to a conflict between the backup boom hoist (fitted to the UAE-destined MRTTs) and the primary boom retraction mechanism, as well as to the test conducted.[48] Airbus later explained that the malfunction was not possible under ordinary operating conditions, and that procedures had been implemented to avoid similar incidents in the future.[48] Following the incident, the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Spain's airworthiness authority, issued precautionary restrictions to other users of boom-equipped A330s.[48]
On 9 February 2014, a Royal Air Force A330 MRTT Voyager carrying 189 passengers and nine crew from RAF Brize Norton to Camp Bastion suddenly lost 4,440 ft (1,350 m) of altitude in 27 seconds and reaching a maximum descent rate of 15,000 ft/min (4,600 m/min) while the co-pilot was out of the cockpit.[211] The sudden descent caused several injuries to passengers and crew, some of whom struck the ceiling of the aircraft. The co-pilot returned to the cockpit, regained control, and the aircraft diverted to Incirlik Air Base and landed without further incident. The incident resulted in the grounding of the entire RAF Voyager fleet for 12 days until it was determined that the event was caused by the captain's improperly stowed DSLR camera being jammed between the captain's armrest and the side-stick, forcing the stick forward when the captain adjusted his seat forward.[212]
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
