Belgium approves acquisition of one A400M flight simulator.

By Nathan Gain

The Belgian government on April 19 approved the acquisition of a sole A400 flight simulator for the Belgian Air Force’s future fleet of strategic airlifters.  “Belgium has decided to make this investment along with Luxembourg,” the Belgian Defense Minister Steven Vandeput announced on its website.

A A400M airlifter performing unpaved runway trials
(Credit: Airbus Defence & Space)

"These flight simulator are so efficient that one hour of training with them equals an hour of operational training with the aircraft. By training with simulator, fewer flights have to be made with the airplane. As a result, 17M€ can be saved annually while the pilots can still perform the necessary training," added Vandeput. 

Delivery of the system is scheduled for 2022. Belgium's contribution to this project amounts to 65M€.

"After years of divesting and saving, urgent investments are needed to renew and modernize the military equipment. The investments in the strategic vision were enshrined in the 23 May 2017 law concerning the military investments plan,” said Vandeput.

Starting 2020, the entire fleet of C-130H - counting 250,300 flight hours - will be replaced by seven A400M aircraft. In September 2017, launched a procedure for the construction of a new hangar at the Melsbroek Air Base to service the BAF future Airbus A400M transport aircraft, via a partnership with the civilian sector. The first deliveries are expected by the end of 2019.