By Jan Hromadko
Airbus is flying high with a steady flow of commercial jet orders at this year’s Farnborough International Air Show after a bumper crop at the Paris Air Show last year.
But its military-aircraft business is stuck on the ground. The Airbus A400M military transporter hasn’t taken part taking part in the air display at this year’s show because of problems with its engines which the aircraft’s suppliers are still investigating.
The engine snafu is just the latest problem to dog the program, which is over budget and years behind its original schedule.
“Of course it is unpleasant if an aircraft has to stay grounded due to engine problems shortly before an air show like Farnborough,” said Egon Behle, chief executive of German aircraft engine maker MTU Aero Engines AG, which is a key supplier for the A400M project.
In an interview at the air show, Mr. Behle said it isn’t unusual for such problems to arise during the development phase of aircraft engines. A diagnosis of the problems is under way, though he wouldn’t speculate about the exact causes.
Still, it isn’t the first time that the A400M hasn’t gotten off theground at a major air show. Gearbox problems forced the company to abandon plans for a flight display at last year’s event in Le Bourget, outside Paris.
The A400M engine, TP400D6 — the most powerful turboprop engine ever made — is being developed by a consortium that also includes Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC.
Airbus, a subsidiary of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. NV, at least has had the pleasure of Malaysia Airlines showing off its newly delivered A380 super jumbo in the skies above Farnborough.