Airbus Beluga Transport Officially Becomes a Dedicated Airline

Just under two years since its launch in January 2022, Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT), operated by Airbus Transport International (ATI), has evolved into a dedicated airline with its own Air Operator Certificate (AOC). Benoît Lemonnier, managing director of AiBT, and Olivier Schneider, head of flight operations, shared insights into this significant transition.

The journey involved compiling extensive documentation across various operational domains, leading to a successful audit by authorities and the attainment of crucial certificates including the Continuous Airworthiness and Maintenance Organisation (CAMO) certificate. This progression allowed AiBT to officially operate under its own AOC.

A crucial aspect of this transformation was staffing, with nearly 60 employees recruited, either externally or through internal mobility within Airbus, mainly from ATI. These staff include management, flight operations, dispatch crew planning, and pilots, all trained to be operationally ready from day one.

AiBT, now functioning as an autonomous freight airline, has developed facilities including a main office near Blagnac airport and an operational base at Francazal airport near Toulouse. This setup supports the preparation and maintenance of the Beluga aircraft, which are central to AiBT's operations.

The company’s fleet currently includes three BelugaST aircraft, with a fourth expected in 2024. Initially, AiBT is focusing on short flights within the existing Airbus network to build operational experience and train staff, especially new pilots, before embarking on core long-haul missions.

Olivier Schneider, with over 20 years of experience at Air France, plays a key role in ramping up operations and crew training. One of the challenges is training new dispatchers every two months, with the goal of eventually operating all five Belugas simultaneously around the world.

AiBT aims to expand its certified payload types to cater to the transportation needs of external customers, including different types of helicopters, containers, and aircraft engines. This expansion is supported by an agreement with Airbus for further investment in the BelugaST’s certification.

Recruiting and training pilots for the unique BelugaST is a significant undertaking. AiBT has an agreement for 12 ATI pilots to join as captains or first officers for up to three years. Additionally, AiBT is actively recruiting pilots from the external job market, aiming for around 36 pilots by 2026.

AiBT’s collaboration with the Airbus Training Center in Toulouse is pivotal, providing EASA-designated Approved Training Organisation services for type rating and recurrent training.

Flying Beluga missions presents unique challenges and opportunities for aircrew, differing significantly from regular freight operations. This includes varied flight profiles, such as cruising at lower altitudes for certain payloads and coordinating complex ground operations for loading and unloading.

Looking ahead, AiBT’s goal is to have a fleet of five Belugas operating globally, marking the culmination of years of dedicated effort and positioning Airbus’ iconic Belugas as a major player in the worldwide aviation market.