The Aeronautical Technologies Centre (CTA), located in the north of Spain, has signed up two new contracts to carry out aeronautical test campaigns for Airbus France and Airbus Spain, along years 2007 and 2008. The agreements were finally settled during the celebration of the past Le Bourget fair, celebrated in Paris on June.

Airbus France has contracted to the Basque technological centre diverse static and fatigue tests on the A-400M front landing gear doors with an estimated value over 400,000 euros.

With this last contract, CTA rises up to 15 the work packages currently under performance for this cargo and rescue plane, with works to develop and to certify actuators and mechanical components of this airship, as well as resistance tests of a new configuration of fuselage panel coating. The A400M is a high speed turboprop transport airplane. The first flight will take place at the beginning of 2008 and the first deliveries will be made at the beginning of 2009. The total number of firm orders reaches 192 for seven European countries, as well as South Africa and Malaysia.

On the other hand, the campaign for Airbus Spain reaches the value of 600,000 euros. CTA will develop a package of tests directed to improve the efficiency of aircraft components currently in production. This contract responds the process of design and introduction of improvements in its products, developed by Airbus, to which CTA will contribute throughout on 2007 and the next year with mechanical and vibro-environmental tests on different components corresponding to the families A-320, A-330 and A-340.

The A-320 single-aisle airplanes family has a capacity to transport between 100 and 200 passengers, whereas the twin-aisle airplanes A-330 and A-340 are considered leader of the market in the category from 295 to 380 seats. Airbus is working in new versions that offer greater range and improves the productivity for the airlines. These airplanes will benefit from the technologies developed for the A380, including new manufacturing techniques that give as a result a lighter airplane with smaller operational costs.

Founded on 1997 by Aernnova (formerly Gamesa Aeronáutica), Industria de Turbo Propulsores - ITP and Sener Engineering and Systems, CTA Foundation owns a fluid dynamic research laboratory in the Bizkaia Technological Park, near Bilbao, where it tests turbine and nozzle components. The structural, fire, vibro-environmental and HALT/HASS laboratories are located in the Technological Park of Álava, both in the North of Spain.