Aircraft
Farnborough A400M Engine Glitch Only On Test Aircraft

The problems with the A400M’s TP400-D6 turboprop engine that caused the airlifter to be scratched from this week’s Farnborough International flight demonstrations will slow civil certification and first delivery of the aircraft, but are not expected to delay its entry into service with the French air force next year. Production aircraft do not have the same issues.

Simon Henley, president of engine manufacturer Europrop International (EPI), said here yesterday that gearbox and bearing issues–unrelated to the gearbox problem that relegated the A400M to the static display at last year’s Paris Airshow–have interrupted a 300-hour functional and reliability (F&R) testing regimen required for European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) civil type certification of the airlifter. In turn, that interruption will delay, “by a matter of weeks,” delivery of the first production aircraft by Airbus Military to the French Armée de l’Air originally targeted for the end of the year.