Octavio Manjarres, Airbus Services’ Pacific Skies task force leader, emphasized the immense responsibility that comes with this unprecedented mission. This joint operation, uniting teams from France, Germany, and Spain, includes exercises in the US, Japan, Australia and India. The scale of preparation, logistics, and in-service support required for this mission cannot be overstated.
Manjarres noted, “Our customers are demonstrating their ability to deploy quickly and flexibly beyond their home regions, interoperating with different aircraft and working together.” He added that facing such logistical challenges provides a unique opportunity to enhance the support provided to customers.
Long before the jets took to the skies, Pacific Skies commenced months of meticulous planning. Airbus teams coordinated closely with customers to assemble mission kits and ensure aircraft readiness through preventive maintenance at various air force bases. Additionally, a network of experts has been established, and over 50 suppliers have been placed on alert for any needed technical support or material during the exercises.
Manjarres explained the importance of resource availability throughout the northern hemisphere summer, stating that a dedicated maintenance, repair, and overhaul team is on standby to assist if an aircraft needs recovery.
The A330 MRTT: from air-to-air refuelling to the largest Pitch Black exercise
Airbus field service representative, Víctor Anton Meñica, based in the Netherlands, supports NATO’s Multinational A330 MRTT Unit (MMU), which provides essential services such as air-to-air refuelling and medical evacuations. Meñica noted, “Working closely with the European Air Transport Command*, we have put our heart and soul into ensuring that the fleet is in the best possible condition.”
During the Pitch Black exercise, held from July 12 to August 2, Meñica was stationed at Amberley Air Base in Queensland, Australia, supporting the A330 MRTTs deployed by various nations, including Australia, Singapore, France, and the UK. “This year’s exercise was remarkable, showcasing the collaboration of 20 countries, over 140 aircraft, and more than 4,400 military personnel,” he said.
Meñica elaborated on his role in assuring continuous operational support to customers: “Being deployed in the field and having direct access to the fleet allows me to coordinate with Airbus technical support teams for optimal solutions.” He emphasized the importance of understanding and prioritizing questions to deliver prompt and accurate advice.
A400M: Supporting customers “from within,” from Australia to India
At Darwin Air Base in Northern Territory, Australia, Eduardo Tijeras supported the French, German, and Spanish air forces, assisting in the deployment of the A400M for tactical operations. Primarily, the A400M serves to transport materials and enhance logistical operations throughout the Pacific Skies deployment, with one aircraft ready for potential search and rescue missions across the Asia Pacific region.
Tijeras stated, “Aircraft are complex; various issues can arise. My role during Pitch Black was to alleviate the customer’s burdens by coordinating with Airbus engineering for swift solutions by being flexible and understanding our customers’ constraints.”
In his role since 2020 with the Royal Malaysian Air Force A400M fleet, Tijeras has cultivated 12 years of experience in maintenance, repair, and overhaul, reinforcing his commitment to connecting customer needs with Airbus solutions. “We are the eyes of Airbus at the customer site, and the voice of the customer at Airbus,” he stated.
Eurofighter: defence commitment from Alaska to Japan and Hawaii
During August, FSR Frank Fust supported the German Air Force at the Nippon Skies exercise in Japan and Rimpac exercise in Hawaii. Fust operates under the System Support Center Eurofighter (SSC EF), a partnership between Airbus and the German Air Force located in Manching, Germany.
At Nippon Skies, German Eurofighters trained alongside Japanese Air Self-Defence Force fighters. At Rimpac, the focus shifted to air defense coordination among naval forces. Notably, the German Air Force set a record for the longest nonstop Eurofighter flight, covering 8,600 kilometers from Japan to Hawaii in just 10 hours, 31 minutes, including multiple in-flight refueling operations.
Fust explained their mission, saying, “We make sure the performance of the Eurofighter’s radar and defensive systems remains stable. Listening to pilots’ debriefings helps us understand and analyze the weapon system’s performance.” He emphasized the importance of efficiently managing the spares inventory and responding rapidly between missions to maximize operational capability alongside their customers.
Last stop India: strengthening multinational cooperation
The Pacific Skies mission will culminate with the Tarang Shakti exercise in early August, marking the Indian Air Force’s first multinational exercise. Géraldine Thiercelin, Head of Services, Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, highlighted the extensive planning that went into Pacific Skies, reflecting constant communication with customers and suppliers. “We’re responsive to the air forces’ needs at all times during the exercise. I am truly proud of Team Airbus and what we are accomplishing,” she concluded.
*The European Air Transport Command (EATC) is a seven-nation multinational command offering air mobility solutions across air transport, air-to-air refueling, and aeromedical evacuation.
Source: Airbus Defence and Space (2024-08-02)
