Airbus surpasses Boeing, being the first airline in the world to pump gas automatically on the fly

Airbus has just surpassed Boeing, achieved an important milestone, and showed everyone its capabilities: they have successfully completed the aerial refueling job. This is also an achievement showing that the technology of the European airline has been one step higher than the US.

Specifically, in the test, the Airbus A310 MRTT conducted automatic refueling of the fighter aircraft of the Portuguese Air Force. Boeing has not yet been able to perform this feat, even its most advanced fuel tanker is still in trouble.

The Airbus A330 MRTT is refueling.

Airbus is a leader in the field of autonomous aircraft operations, and their new achievement shows the automation power of Airbus, in addition to efforts to minimize human intervention in the flight. Last December, an Airbus A350 XWB took off successfully without a pilot, all that “holding the steering wheel” was the software associated with the camera on the plane.

It is expected that next year, the automated system will be installed on Airbus A330 MRTT refueling aircraft, a direct competitor of Boeing KC-46 Pegasus. The Boeing fuel tank is the latest model and is currently in service with the US Air Force, but KC-46 Pegasus has many problems. The aircraft could not refuel automatically, and there are still problems that Boeing has not been able to install the automated system.

So how did Airbus surpass Boeing, design and manufacture of an “airborne gas station”?

The Airbus A330 MRTT was developed based on the A330-200 prototype – a civil aircraft.

Airbus A330 MRTT

The Airbus A330-200 is the smallest model in the A330 family, which has been favored by many airlines around the world but now its main purpose is multi-role fuel tanker, Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

Airbus A330 MRTT

Basically, Airbus A330-200 and MRTT model are the same. The MRTT is fitted with military standard accessories and an external camera for refueling.

Airbus A330 MRTT

Because it is a “multitasking” aircraft, it can be flexible in its missions. It could be an aerial refueling station:

Probably a field hospital with a capacity of 300 people:

The refueling process does not require the aircraft to add fuel to the tail of the Airbus A330 MRTT. From inside the control compartment, the operator will monitor the camera to put the fuel in place.

Fuel cockpit control of Airbus A330 MRTT

Airbus’ newly developed software is capable of driving fuel lines; Aerial fuel injection process will take place automatically.

Automated systems of Airbus A330 MRTT

The Airbus A330 MRTT also has two fuel tanks on either side. However, only aircraft with special gasoline routes can be fueled this way.

Airbus A330 MRTT

While Airbus celebrates the new victory, Boeing with its KC-46 Pegasus has many bitter bugs.

KC-46 Pegasus

The US Air Force said that once Boeing fixed the Remote Control Vision system, the KC-46 Pegasus could automatically refuel another aircraft.

KC-46 Pegasus

Software problems, faulty sensors and many other problems in production made Boeing “lose points” in the eyes of existing customers – the US Air Force or other potential customers.

Boeing KC-46 Pegasus

Airbus invites the US Air Force to buy the A330 MRTT to fill the Pegasus refueling plane, but the Air Force refuses, continuing to stick with Boeing.

Airbus A330 MRTT

Airbus is expected to apply for a license to operate the automatic refueling system by 2021. When everything is approved, Airbus will bring the automation of the A330 MRTT to every other potential customer.

Airbus A330 MRTT

  Refer to Business Insider