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The aircraft's maiden flight, originally planned
for 2008, took place on December 11, 2009 in
Seville, Spain. Airbus parent EADS (EAD.PA) told
analysts on May 14 that the A400M would be
delivered to France in the second quarter at a
cost of $170 million. In March 2013, European
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved type
certification on the A400M.
With a maximum payload of up to 37 tons, the
A400M can carry numerous pieces of outsize cargo
including, vehicles and helicopters that are too
large or too heavy for previous generation
tactical airlifters, for example, an NH90 or a
CH-47 Chinook helicopter, or two heavy armored
vehicles for military purposes. It can also
carry a heavy logistic truck, or a rescue boat,
or large lifting devices, such as excavators or
mobile cranes needed to assist in disaster
relief.
The A400M can also carry 116 personnel, or
paratroops. Because of the width of the A400M’s
fuselage, they can be seated in four rows, all
along the two sides of the fuselage, and back to
back along the centre-line, with enough space in
between the facing rows.
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