ILA Berlin 2012: A400M shows humanitarian air transport credentials
Above: Airbus Military’s next-generation A400M airlifter took to the skies for a high-profile flight presentation at the 2012 ILA Berlin Air Show in Germany.
Earthquakes, floods, hunger crisis – more than 100 times a year, humanitarian air transport plays a key role in quick response and help worldwide. Multi-role transport aircraft play a key role in supporting relief operations, for example deployment of food and water or transport of rescue teams and mobile hospitals.
“The intensity and frequency of humanitarian disasters have clearly increased – so have the requirements for humanitarian aid agencies. The aerospace industry can provide unique resources and skills. They can make it easier for humanitarian aid agencies to meet the increasing demands. For the first time at ILA, we showcase some of our products”, said Lutz Bertling, President elect of the BDLI. “Especially transport aircraft, which are not constrained to operate from conventional runways, are resources these agencies really need. Here, the A400M will certainly play a central role.
Many flights for humanitarian air transport are different from normal cargo operations. One challenge for example is the transport of Emergency Response Units and material in areas without – or with damaged – infrastructure. Takeoffs and landings must be performed on grass strips or damaged airports. Normal cargo planes also need special equipment for loading and unloading. The A400M is able to transport more, over longer distances and operate right into the disaster area.
Compared with the C-160 Transall, the A400M will offer more range and an increased capacity for humanitarian missions: typical payload is about 25 tons of cargo where the Transall offered 6 – 8. Another advantage is the flexibility. You can mix cargo and equipment with troops over long distances and get the aircraft to arrive close to the operational bases as it is able to land on unpaved runways such as grass strips.
In total, there are 174 A400Ms ordered by eight customers. Of these, Germany has ordered 53 A400Ms with the first delivery targeted for 2014
