Responsible for the design and production of the A400 nose section, Aerolia also equips the Airbus military aircraft with in-flight refuelling tanks for the squadrons.

In-flight refuelling is vitally important for nations wanting to retain their operational autonomy. Refuelling aircraft offer considerable time saving, discretion and increased safety for the fighters and bombers performing missions over long distances.

Aerolia is proud to contribute to this strategy by equipping the A400M with two 7,200-litre tanks; transportable on pallets, this equipment is easy to handle on the ground and can refuel 2 or 3 aircraft in flight simultaneously.

Recognised know-how

"Selected amongst aerostructure manufacturers bidden by Airbus, Aerolia is responsible for manufacturing these tanks. Our control of the technologies involved in this type of equipment, as well as our ability to comply with this programme's very tight schedule were decisive factors convincing our customer to choose Aerolia", comments Christian Cornille, CEO of Aerolia.

Measuring nearly 3 metres long by 2 metres wide, these tanks are assembled directly on Aerolia Saint-Nazaire site and will be delivered directly to the customer at Bremen, Seville or Toulouse.

Schedule on target

After a first tank produced end 2012 in Saint-Nazaire and intended for the structural tests, Aerolia delivers a batch of 2 tanks for the in-flight tests of the aircraft, thereby opening the way for the manufacture of 26 batches ordered, i.e. a total of 52 aircraft tanks.

In line with the company's development strategy, the manufacture of these tanks positions Aerolia as aeronautical equipment manufacturer and enables it to continue its development.