A French Air Force A400M has been engaged in air-to-air refuelling training with RAF Voyager Aircraft.
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Crews from the Equipe de Marque Avions de Transport Tactiques (EMATT), the French Air & Space Force’s trials and evaluation section, have spent a week with No. 206 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton. Number 206 Squadron’s role mirrors that of the EMATT and they have been collaborating on new skills and best practices with their French counterparts. The Squadron worked on the initial testing of A400M air-to-air refuelling (AAR) capability for the RAF, making them perfectly placed to share expertise and knowledge with the French Air Force.
The week compromised several AAR sorties, in which, the French Air Force’s A400M received fuel from a Royal Air Force Voyager, flown by Nos.10 and 101 Squadron, training both during the daytime and evening. An AAR instructor from No. 206 Squadron was onboard the French A400M, training their crews to safely perform AAR operations with the RAF.
Squadron Leader Mark Spector, Executive Officer No. 206 Squadron said:
“After many months in the planning, it has been a pleasure to enact Royal Air Force-French Air and Space Force interoperability and enable the EMATT to conduct air-to-air training with our RAF Voyagers. As equivalent RAF-FASF squadrons, it has been encouraging to experience how, overall, our thoughts, skills and approaches align in conducting trials; there is also a great deal to be gained in looking at our nuances for best practice. In particular, it has been interesting to experience how the EMATT incorporates operational mission planning into their Operational Test and Evaluation, eg low level flying was conducted prior to the AAR element. Flight Lieutenant Staples (No. 206 Squadron test pilot) has enjoyed an extremely busy week flying with the EMATT test crew and sharing experience, having worked tirelessly to ensure mission success. We look forward to continuing with this level of engagement, to strengthen RAF-FASF interoperability and in the process make our Air Mobility fleets more effective."
Squadron Leader Mark Spector
Executive Officer Number 206 Squadron RAF
Voyager Captain, Flight Lieutenant Phil Walton, said:
“Today was a very successful sortie refuelling the French Air and Space Force’s A400M. It’s always a pleasure to work with our fellow Airbus operators. We’re proud to be able to work alongside our French colleagues supporting their air-to-air refuelling training in the UK.”
Flight Lieutenant Phil Walton
Voyager Captain
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