EASA (the European Aviation Safety Agency) has granted type certification to the Airbus A330-200F, after the new freighter completed a 200 hour, two aircraft flight test campaign, which validated the aircraft’s payload as 70 tonnes, one more than originally expected.
“After a very smooth and successful flight test campaign we have reached certification in line with our planning,” Christian Favre, A330/340 chief engineer, said. “Moreover, thanks to some design optimisation, the aircraft’s payload capability of 70 tonnes is one tonne more than first expected.”
The freighter has been certified through an amendment to the existing A330-200 EASA type certificate granted in 1998. US FAA certification is expected to follow shortly.