The CQC (certification and qualification committee), a group of experts from the seven partner countries, has recommended that the A400M military transport aircraft be awarded its military certificate of airworthiness. The technical authority, that is to say France’s Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), will thus be able in the coming days to establish a military type certificate.

The expert panel includes a representative from each nation and is chaired by a chief engineer (Lt Col.) from DGA. The committee’s main task is to ensure that military safety standards are maintained, and that the aircraft meets the performance standards submitted by Airbus Military. The committee bases its conclusions on the work of 15 working groups, one for each of the certification areas (avionics, human factors, electronic warfare, etc.).

Military certification is a preliminary step to the delivery of the first A400M to French Air Force. It is part of a process which also includes civil certification, which was granted by the European Aviation Safety Agency.