RAF A400M's grounded - 9 May 2015

[StreetF117]

Hi all,

Due to the tragic and fatal crash of Airbus Industries A400M - EC-403 / A4M023 (msn 023) on take-off from Seville Airport on 9 May 2015, Sky news reports that both RAF A400M's are currently grounded.

This will probably also apply to the visiting A4M016 - Airbus Industries A400M ( msn 016).

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=176003


Regards

Ben

[YellowBelly]

for reasons unknown, the A400 fleet arent actually "grounded", the official term is "paused"

never heard of it myself either, perhaps the difference between a fleet in use and a fleet still on trials?????

[POL]

Nope, "paused" doesn't sound as bad as "grounded" -it's a PR thing.

[yoda-says]

Investigators have found evidence a military plane crash in Spain may have been caused by software problems.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32810273

[catkins]

Is Airbus Atlas EC-406, A4M016, RAF ZM401 still presumably on the ground at RAF BrIze Norton? I presume that all flight testing of non-Airbus fleet is still 'Paused' despite or inspite the recent ECU check alert.
I also presume that once the 'Pause' is revoked, flight testing of the DASS self-protection will then start using ZM401 as the trials aircraft?
Can anyone update me here or via PM if I'm correct/incorrect on my presumptions or if any updated trials dates are announced. Thanks!

[tm74sqn]

I believe that the EC-406 at Brize recently was development a/c MSN006 - I think that it may have departed during the evening of 7 May.
A4M016 is MSN016, to eventually become ZM401 with the RAF, arrived at around tea-time on 7 May - as far as I know it is still at Brize, but not really at all sure. So positive news would be very welcome!
Cheers, TM74

[apgphoto]

TM is correct MSN6 (EC-406) which flew the DASS profiles returned on May 7th, MSN016 (marked as A4M016, ZM401 when delivered) arrived on May 7th to carry out the DASS trials.

The only A400 to move since the accident was EC-404 MSN 4 that flew Toulouse-Seville on May 12th

[Al dunn]

The Future ZM401, is still currently at Brize along with a current RAF one. With the other RAF one stuck in America

[catkins]

Thanks everyone for the updates - yes the numbering has been confusing with the reallocation of numbering, so apologies for my adding in EC-406, as this is indeed the one that I photographed at RAF Spadeadam undertaking profile runs the day before the accident in Seville. Perhaps Al dunn, calling the one I was asking about as Future ZM401 is the least confusing!
I presume that this will remain in Primer finish until it returns to Seville, which may be upon lifting of the 'Pause' and the completion of any rearranged DASS trials? Let's hope that its not too long before we see the A400M fleet back in the air.
Thanks again.

[watchman]

According to Plane Finder an A400M of the FAF is currently flying over the Med serial listed as 0014. This aircraft has been flying on and off all the time

Watchman

[apgphoto]

Forgot about France, they are flying very limited flights due to their airlift shortfall in the Middle East

[LM47]

Can anybody confirm that ZM401 is here and if so where is it parked?
Thanks in advance
RG

[Al dunn]

The aircraft which will become ZM401, is currently at Brize, probably in Base hangar. It's currently marked as A4M016

Regards

Al

[YellowBelly]

402 is currently sat on Bay 15 (that may be old school numbering, cant remember what it is now) which is outside the old LSS building next to the terminal. didnt see the other one the past few days so I assume its in Base hangar at the mo.

Did note on the flying programme that an A400 is booked for tomorrow, whether it happens or not is another story, but in light of the report that came out from Airbus yesterday, they still arent sure what happened even after investigating the various black boxes.

Lets hope things get back to normal rather sharpish, this aircraft type is looking like replicating the Nimrod 4 delays :/

[yoda-says]

Airbus Atlas EC-406 will up today

[R1nger]

17:27 Fatlas just flew over Witney from Brize, is this EC-406?

[sherriff]

Affirm.

[R1nger]

Thanks Sherriff