On Wednesday 20 August 2025, Major General Franck Mollard, Commander of the European Air Transport Command (EATC), warmly welcomed Mr Gerd Weber, Head of the A400M Programme at Airbus, for an official visit to the command’s headquarters in Eindhoven.
The A400M represents the backbone of the air transport capabilities entrusted to EATC. With more than half of the flights coordinated by the command relying on this aircraft, the programme is at the very core of EATC’s mission to deliver strategic and tactical air mobility for its seven member nations. Against this background, the visit provided a timely opportunity to deepen the dialogue between industry and the multinational command.
During the programme, EATC experts presented their planning processes as well as the major operational challenges encountered in mission control. Mr Weber also received a comprehensive overview of EATC’s functional domains and was guided through a dynamic tour of the Mission Control Centre, which ensures round-the-clock coordination of multinational air transport operations.
A central theme of the discussions was the Lighthouse Project and its achievements in cross-maintenance for the A400M fleet. These efforts pave the way for enhanced interoperability, increased aircraft availability, and greater efficiency among the member nations – tangible examples of how close cooperation between EATC and Airbus translates into operational benefits.
The visit concluded with a commemorative gesture as Mr Weber signed the EATC Golden Book, symbolising the enduring and forward-looking partnership between EATC and Airbus. Both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthen cooperation and to ensure that the A400M continues to meet the evolving needs of European air mobility.