In the wake of the unexplained crash of an A400M troop and cargo transport plane in Spain May 9, Airbus has ordered a review of the software that controls the turboprop engines of that aircraft model. The crash killed a Spanish flight test crew and has led to the grounding of British, German and Turkish A400Ms already in service. The French military has also restricted the use of its six Airbus transports.
Airbus has asked its military customers to conduct checks of the software in the electronic control unit (ECU) of the engines. "To avoid potential risks in any future flights, Airbus Defence and Space has informed the operators about necessary actions to take," Airbus executives announced in an official statement.
The A400M was developed as European replacement for the C-130 military transport. The aircraft, assembled in Spain, was a joint program of seven NATO countries; Airbus' contract for the program had a price tag of over $22 billion. Delays in delivery of the A400M led to cost overruns and a reshuffling of Airbus's management.
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