A400M deliveries delayed by six months

EADS has informed its A400M customers, including OCCAR, of its revised estimate for the first aircraft deliveries schedule. This will affect A400M deliveries to both European and other customer nations. A400M deliveries are now expected to start six months later than initially planned with a risk of a further slippage of up to a half year.

The re-scheduling of the programme is driven by the slow progress in engine development, which stands on the critical path to achieving first flight, schedule overruns in the systems development, and a flight test programme that differs significantly from that of commercial Airbus aircraft.

Mitigation measures are being implemented, and the financial consequences are currently being assessed. They will be communicated with the 9-months earnings disclosure.

The first A400M is in production in the new final assembly line in Seville, Spain and is due to make its first flight in summer 2008. Sections of subsequent aircraft, which will join the flight test aircraft fleet, are in production. To date, the first nine contractual milestones have been completed including the inauguration of the Aircraft Test Facility. The A400M Systems Simulator, designated "Aircraft Zero", was presented to the customers by means of a fully functional demonstration at the end of July 2007. This simulator is an essential part of the aircraft certification process.

EADS press release.

Webmasters note:
The SAAF has contracted to for the purchase of eight A400Ms. The first SAAF aircraft was due to be delivered towards the end of 2010.