Fourth A330 ready for tanker-transport conversion

An Airbus A330-200, the fourth of five to be converted into Multi-Role Tanker-Transports (MRTT) for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), has arrived at the Qantas Aircraft Conversion Centre in Brisbane where the work will be carried out.

Although designated Aircraft No.4, it will actually be the third A330 conversion in Australia, Aircraft No.1 having been fully modified at the Airbus Military facilities in Madrid, Spain.

It joins Aircraft No.3, the second A330 being converted in Brisbane, which is nearly ready. Following completion of the military modifications, No.3 will receive “power-on” in mid-July, enabling tests to ensure that all systems are functional.

The latest A330 arrival will be handed over to prime contractor, Qantas Defence Services, next week and preparatory conversion work will begin in mid-July. In mid-August the aircraft will be moved into Brisbane’s Hangar No.1 where the major work will be undertaken by Qantas and Airbus Military technicians supported by RAAF personnel.

Converting the A330 platform into the RAAF’s designated KC30A will take about 10 months and includes the installation of the state-of-the-art advanced Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) and two under-wing-mounted ‘hose-and-drogue’ refuelling pods. There is also a full set of military avionics, communication systems and defensive countermeasure equipment to be installed

In total, the Commonwealth of Australia ordered five Airbus Military A330 MRTTs for conversion to KC30As in December 2004. The first two will be with the RAAF before the end of this year