독일 공군, 고장으로 외무장관의 해외 방문이 취소된 뒤 A340 2대를 조기 퇴역

[위종민]

원래 23년 9월, 24년 말 퇴역 예정이던 독일공군 소속의 VIP 수송기 A340-300 2대가 향후 몇 주 안에 퇴역할 예정입니다.

A340-300이 퇴역하고 나면 A350이 장거리 VIP 수송 임무를 담당할 예정이라고 합니다. 

안날레나 바르복 독일 외무부장관이 호주, 뉴질랜드, 피지를 방문할 예정이었지만 8월 13일 독일 베를린 공항을 출발해 6시간을 비행한 뒤 중간 기착지였던 아부다비 공항에서 재급유 후 이륙했다가 플랩 고장으로 회항했고, 하루 뒤에 다시 호주로 출발했지만 똑같은 문제가 발생했고 다시 아부다비 공항으로 회항했다고 하네요. 8월 15일 해외 방문은 취소됐고 외무장관은 여객기편으로 독일로 돌아갔다고 합니다. 

이번에 문제가 된 독일공군 16+01 항공기는 2011년 도입기체입니다. 그 전에는 1999년 5월부터 루프트한자에서 굴리던 기체로 기령은 24.3년이었네요. ( https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/airbus-a340-300-1601-luftwaffe-german-air-force/rqpmye )

https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/germany-airbus-australia-cancelled-foreign-minister

Germany scraps state-owned Airbus A340s over minister’s flight fiasco to Australia

BYIAN MOLYNEAUX

2023-08-15

2 MINUTE READ

BriYYZ / Creative Commons

The German Air Force has confirmed that the two state-owned Airbus A340-300 aircraft will take an early retirement 

The move comes after Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was forced to cancel her trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji after the government A340 she was traveling on suffered a series of problems after leaving Germany.  

“We will take the two #A340 out of service as soon as possible, i.e., in the coming weeks. The two Airbus A340s were originally scheduled to be retired in September 2023 (16+02) and at the end of 2024 (16+01, located in Abu Dhabi),” the German Air Force wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).  

The air force added: “With the #A350, robust and modern aircraft for long-haul flights are available to those ready to fly.” 

The flight fiasco began on August 13, when Germany’s 16+01 aircraft departed Berlin Airport (BER) for Canberra Airport (CBR) in Australia. 

After six hours of flying the A340 made a scheduled stop at Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to refuel.  

After a two hour stop the government jet continued its journey but was forced to return to AUH following an issue with the aircraft’s flaps.  

Before landing back in the UAE, the plane was forced to dump its fuel, no doubt at a cost to the German TAX payer.  

It was decided while the plane was being fixed the delegation would spend the night in a hotel.  

The following day the Airbus A340 once again took off but subsequently suffered the exact same problem shortly after take off and the jet returned to AUH, but not before enough fuel to fly to Australia was dumped first. 

On August 15, 2023, the trip was called off and plans were put in place for the German Minister to return home on a commercial flight.  

“We tried everything, but it is no longer logistically possible to continue my Pacific trip without the defect aircraft. It is beyond annoying,” Baerbock wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). 

The Germany’s 16+01 aircraft joined the German Air Force in 2011.  

[백선호]

A340은 B777에 밀려 아무도 찾지 않는 신세가 되었고 고철값이나 받을 듯 합니다.

http://cafe.daum.net/NTDS/50q9/1839

[위종민]

나올 때만 해도 엔진 두 개에 두 개가 더 달려있어서 파일럿들이 원하는 기체라고 광고했었던... ( https://cafe.daum.net/NTDS/50q9/1886 )