EASA certification for A400M engine programme

London: The hugely-troubled European A400M airlifter programme has crossed an important milestone with the aircraft's huge turboprop engine being certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Airbus Military is expected to hand over its first A400M to the French air force in late 2012 or early 2013, as against the original delivery deadline of November 2009.

Europrop International (EPI), the four-company consortium responsible for developing and building the TP400-D6 engine, said the engine programme crossed the milestone after a testing schedule that involved more than 8,000 flight hours and 4,000 hours of ground testing.

The 6 May announcement came just days after EPI said it had signed an amended contract with Airbus Military settling outstanding issues related to the much-delayed and over-budget transport plane.

"The agreement settles all outstanding issues between the two companies," read a statement issued by EPI, which is a consortium between ITP, MTU Aero Engines, Rolls-Royce and Snecma.

In a statement, EPI said the TP400 is the first large turboprop certified by EASA and the first military engine to be cleared by the agency to civil standards from the outset.