Today the Airbus Military A400M aircraft has received its type acceptance within the contractual Initial Operating Clearance (IOC) - standard as arranged with OCCAR, the organisation for joint armament cooperation – and therewith on behalf of the participating nations within OCCAR (among them also the EATC Participating Nations as of Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg - all to fly the aircraft in future).
Earlier and moreover - on 24th of July - Airbus Military received the Military Type Certificate (Certificat de Type) for the “Atlas” from the French Defence Procurement Agency DGA - stated today by press release of Airbus Military.
This military standard acceptance on IOC-level is the last step prior to the national acceptance of aircraft MSN7 - first upcoming French serial aircraft - by DGA, which also is in charge to finally handover the aircraft to the French Air Force.
Words and picture: Norbert Thomas