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(10/10/23)
 Airbus has officially commenced construction
of a new A400M maintenance centre at Wunstorf Air Base in Germany.

The A400M
maintenance centre is being built right next to the air base of
Air Transport Squadron 62 (LTG 62).

“Airbus’ decision to establish the new
maintenance center in Wunstorf is farsighted and correct. Its
proximity to the air base and also to Hannover airport will ensure
smooth maintenance and operational readiness of the important
A400M aircraft. This project marks an important step in securing
transport capacities for the security of our country and for aid
transports to disaster areas,” said Stephan Weil, Minister
President of Lower Saxony.

The costs for the centre are in the low
three-digit million range, and around 300 new jobs will be
created, mainly for aeronautical engineering personnel.

Airbus A400M. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

According to current planning and depending on the
progress of construction, the increase in personnel is to begin
gradually from 2025, with completion planned for 2026 and
entry-into-service from mid-2027 after approval by the German
Armed Forces Airworthiness Office.

“The A400M is an indispensable
part of the Air Force – whether as a transporter, tanker or in its
role as MedEvac. With the A400M, we are supporting Bundeswehr
missions and NATO air forces on the eastern flank. Evacuation
missions from Kabul or Sudan would not have been feasible without
the A400M. Similarly, we use the A400M to provide emergency aid in
the event of natural disasters, as recently in Turkey and Libya.
Worldwide operational readiness with our A400M fleet – that is
only possible together with Airbus,” said Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, Chief of the German Air Force.

Currently, about 20 employees of the
construction companies are on site, though during peak
construction periods more than 500 employees may be working
there.

Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space,
said, “The A400M has been in reliable service for the
German Armed Forces for over ten years. To keep it that way, the
new Airbus A400M Maintenance Center Wunstorf is an important step
forward: here, we will deepen the cooperation with the German
Armed Forces and further improve the availability and operational
capability of the A400M.”

Airbus A400M Arriving in Bangkok, Thailand on 19 April 2012

See also:
Pictures of Airbus A400M – Page 1 of 2.

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