Airbus Tanker Loses Chunk of Refueling Boom in Midair AccidentJanuary 28, 2011
 The saga to replace the Air Force's ageing aerial fuel tankers continues, with a yet a new twist. A large chunk of a refueling boom—the part that connects the tanker to the fighter jet in midair—broke off an Airbus plane during an exercise and fell into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal, according to a report in The New York Times. Airbus plans to offer the same model to the U.S. Air Force. The incident could have ramifications on the Air Force's decision to award a $35 billion contract as it weighs proposals from Boeing and EADS, Airbus's parent company. The Air Force is scheduled to announce the winner in March. The latest trouble is "an unwelcome development at this stage in the competition,” Richard L. Aboulafia, an aviation consultant at the Teal Group, told the Times. But it's unlikely to sway the congressional leaders who are vying to bring jobs to their districts via Airbus factories. The Airbus refueling tanker, which was to be delivered to the Australian Air Force, and the Portuguese jetfighter that was being refueled at the time were damaged. But a spokesman for EADS's North American unit told the Times it was too early to pinpoint what caused the accident and how it may impact the competition. The U.S. Air Force had no comment on how this might affect the service's decision. The Airbus spokesman further noted that its boom has been extensively tested and certified, making more than 1,500 connections with other planes in flight and transferring more than one million pounds of fuel, according to the article. Australia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also ordered this model. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace) |
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