UK gets sixth Voyager, as type nears debut on Falklands route

AirTanker has introduced its sixth Airbus A330 Voyager tanker/transport for the UK, and secured a key approval before using the type to deliver personnel and equipment to the Falkland Islands from later this year.
Modified as a KC3-model three-point tanker, aircraft ZZ335 touched down at the Royal Air Force's Brize Norton air base in Oxfordshire in late June. It joins four other Voyagers for use by the service's 10 Sqn, plus another which is retained on the UK civilian register for air transport tasks only.
flightglobal

RAF A330 Voyagar AirTanker Receives Clearance For Extended Operations

AirTanker, the company that owns and operates the U.K. Royal Air Force’s (RAF) fleet of Airbus A330 Voyager multi-role tanker transport aircraft, has received its 180-min. Extended Operations (Etops) clearance from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority on June 28, and it means that the company’s civil-registered aircraft can conduct long-range, over-water operations.
The clearance is also part of the company’s preparations to begin operations to the Falkland Islands via Ascension Island starting in fall 2013, ending the RAF’s reliance on third-party charter operators flying the route.
AirTanker is now awaiting a military Etops certification from the U.K. Military Aviation Authority (MAA) that it hopes to receive by the end of the year.
aviationweek

RAF A-330 Voyager AirTanker Cleared To Begin Air-To-Air Refueling Operations

AirTanker, the company charged with providing the U.K. Royal Air Force (RAF) with air-to-air refueling capability, has been cleared to begin inflight refueling.
The long-awaited clearance, granted by the U.K. Military Aviation Authority (MAA) on May 16, means that RAF Panavia Tornado crews can now start refueling training from the new A330 Voyager tankers. Refueling clearances with the Eurofighter Typhoon will follow later along with other aircraft in the inventory.

Anthony Osborne-aviationweek

AirTanker Aims To Solve European Tanker Shortage

AirTanker, the company operating the U.K. Royal Air Force's (RAF) fleet of tanker-transport aircraft, has begun looking into ways to begin generating third-party revenue.

Company leaders hope to capitalize on Europe's chronic shortage of tanker aircraft by offering flying hours and capacity using their spare Airbus A330-200 Voyager tanker transports, potentially leasing them to other countries in military configuration when they are not required by the RAF.

Tony Osborne-aviationweek

AirTanker to start defensive aids upgrade on RAF Voyagers

Use of the UK's new Airbus A330 Voyager tanker/transports is set to be expanded from later this year, with the growing fleet set to receive an enhanced suite of self-protection equipment required to meet the Ministry of Defence's theatre entry standard for flights into Afghanistan.

flightglobal