About to receive its first A330 for transport missions, the PR-AIS (MSN 1492) is currently heading to Dublin Airport (DUB), in Ireland, for the painting process with the colors of Brazilian Air Force (FAB).
The aircraft took off from Amman, Jordan, where the aircraft was supposed to receive the c-check plus painting, but due to logistical issues involving the jet's delivery schedule, the Airbus ended up being sent to Ireland.
As a result of the bidding (220004/CABW/2022), Azul Linhas Aéreas was crowned the winner at the beginning of April for meeting all the requirements of the event, presenting an offer worth approximately US$ 80 million, equivalent to R$ 375 million reais, at the current exchange rate. The process ended on April 07th.
As a result, the airline presented the MSN 1492 aircraft (Manufacturer's Serial Number), which it already operated, and the MSN 1508, acquired in the international market and offered for bidding. As provided for in the notice, the first aircraft must be delivered within 90 days and the second within 150 days, counted from the g of the contract.
Negotiation with the company Airbus for the conversion of commercial aircraft into MRTT platforms (Multi-Role Transport Tanker) is in process since the first aircraft with this configuration enters into operation in 2024.
Both, which already have their registrations defined (FAB 2901 and FAB 2902), will receive the designation KC 30 and will be operated by Second Squadron of the Second Transport Group (2nd/2nd WG) – Corsair Squadron, headquartered at Galeão Air Force Base (BAGL), in Rio de Janeiro (RJ).
The Aircraft
The two widebody are ex-Avianca Brasil aircraft. MSN 1492, newer, made its first flight on 14/04/2014 and delivered to Avianca with registration number N941AV in October 2014. In November 2017 it was transferred to Avianca Brasil, which operated it until the end of its operations with registration PR-OCJ. After being acquired by Azul Linhas Aéreas in 2019, it received the PR-AIS registration and was stocked in December 2020.
The MSN 1508 made its first flight on 14/03/2014, also delivered to the Colombian airline in October of the same year, with registration number N508AV. In July 2017, it was transferred to the Brazilian arm of Avianca, receiving registration PR-OCK and was later returned to the leasing company Titan Airways, where it is ed as G-POWX.
