118 AIR POWER 201721 ST CENTURY CAPABILITIES
21 ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIPSThe deployment helped
to further validate RAF
procedures for operating
the A400M Atlas globally
from the RNZAF’s 40 Squadron, who operate their
aircraft in a similar air mobility role. The following
morning, via a training approach at Hobart, Tasmania,
we flew the aircraft into Avalon, near Melbourne.”
The Atlas transport aircraft left RAF Brize Norton
with a payload of about 16 tonnes of assorted military
equipment and stores, just under five tonnes of
which were delivered to UK armed forces enduring
rigorous training exercises near Hill Air Force Base
in Utah. Another eight tonnes were offloaded in
San Diego at North Island, in support of elements
of the British Army’s training programme. Having
dropped off the stores, the Atlas was later loaded
up with about two tonnes of freight from another
exercise that had been taking place in Australia.
TESTING PROCEDURES
Apart from supporting the UK Defence Exercise
programme, the deployment helped to further
validate RAF procedures for operating the A400M Atlas
globally; not just in terms of the aircrew – pilots and
crewmen – but also RAF movements staff responsible
for organising freight carriage. In addition, it helped
the RAF stress-test their engineering procedures,
both in maintaining the aircraft at considerable
range from the MOB and in terms of the support
structure back in the UK, which helped ensure
that they successfully completed all their tasks.
But that was not all the trip achieved, as Wg
Cdr Boyle explains: “In addition to building valuable
experience supporting defence tasking, it was a
fantastic opportunity to visit Australia and New
Zealand to reinforce our long-standing friendship
and partnership with both air forces. We were
also delighted to be able to support the head of
the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, while
he was visiting Australia and New Zealand.”
The stopovers in the United States, New Zealand,
Australia and Indonesia were ideal opportunities to
showcase the A400M. These locations gave Wg Cdr
Roger Flynn, who accompanied the crew on the task, a
chance to promote the aircraft on behalf of the DIT DSO
(Department for International Trade Defence and Security
Organisation) by briefing their senior political and
military staff on the roles and capabilities of the aircraft.
“The A400M, as an Airbus aircraft, has a significant
UK aerospace industry contribution, and any overseas
sales will benefit the UK’s economy,” says Wg Cdr Flynn.
“Media facilities were arranged at each location and the
aircraft was on display at both the Ohakea Air Tattoo in
New Zealand and the Avalon Airshow in Australia, to
be viewed by more than 9,000 members of the public
and many visiting air forces from all over the world.”
He adds, “Elements of the technologically
advanced composite materials used in A400M
manufacture are made in the UK, as are the wings.
Additionally, Rolls-Royce is one of the major
collaborative partners in the manufacture of the
A400M TP400-D6 engines, as part of Europrop
International. We recognise that we also have a
responsibility to support our industry partners,
as per the 2015 National Security Strategy
objective three – promoting UK prosperity.”FINAL STOPOVERS
Having attended the Avalon Airshow, the crew
made their way back home via a further potential
A400M customer country – Indonesia – which
generated significant interest from the country’s
media. Malaysia followed, including a valuable
opportunity to share A400M operating experiences
with the crew’s Malaysian A400M Squadron colleagues.
Finally, they set off over the Indian Ocean to the
Middle East and across Europe, before touching
back down in the UK on Sunday 12 March.Wg Cdr Simon Boyle
and his crew gave
interviews to local
media during the
course of their trip
(PHOTO: WG CDR
R O G E R FLY N N/
© CROWN COPYRIGHT)