UAE Air Force A330 tankers to have Etihad passenger cabin

[Pieter C. 5]

UAE air force A330 tankers to have Etihad passenger cabin

 

The United Arab Emirates air force is to equip its three Airbus Military A330 Multi Role Tanker Transports (MRTT) with the standard passenger cabin used by the country's national airline, Etihad Airways.

 

The aircraft will be converted by Airbus Military for an air-to-air refuelling role from "green" A330-200s at the company's Getafe facility near Madrid, and will feature Etihad's two-class, 262-seat layout and full galley and in-flight entertainment system fit.

 

Service entry of the first UAE A330 MRTT is scheduled for 2011.

 

"They like an interior prepared not for troops, but for real passengers," says Miguel Morell, Airbus Military head of derivative programmes. "If you go inside the aircraft, you are going to see an Etihad aircraft."

[flee 5]

Err how much fuel can it carry if it has 262 seats? Don't tell me they are just carrying the fuel in the cargo holds?

[KC Sim 2]

Looks like the intention is to rotate it between Etihad (for normal airline operation) and UAE Air Force (for use as tanker and maybe troop carrying).

 

I would love to photograph it on regular Etihad services but with the refuelling boom (or parts of it) underneath.

 

KC