A new era in air cargo began on 5 November when the no. 1 A330-200F took off for the first time from Airbus’ headquarters facility in Toulouse, France. The maiden flight was performed ahead of schedule, confirming this next-generation freighter’s promise as the right aircraft at the right time.

Derived from the popular A330 passenger jetliner, the A330-200F is highly efficient and versatile – offering superior payload and range as a mid-size, long-haul cargo airlifter. It also benefits from the advanced technologies and commonality inherent in Airbus’ modern family of widebody and single-aisle aircraft.

Flying the A330-200F: presentation of the crew

For the maiden flight of its new mid-sized, long-haul A330-200 Freighter, Airbus assembled a seasoned cockpit team: test pilots Philippe Perrin and Martin Scheuermann, and flight engineers Wolfgang Brueggemann, Stephane Vaux, and Pascal Vernau.

Philippe Perrin - Test pilot

Philippe Perrin joined the Airbus Flight Test department in 2004. Interested in engine design, he took part in the development of the Geared Turbo Fan in Toulouse and the development of the PowerJet SaM 146 in Russia.

He graduated from the French Ecole Polytechnique in 1985, and first flew in the French Air Force, obtaining the qualification of test pilot. In addition, he participated in the development of the French Mirage 2000-5 multi-role jet fighter. Perrin has logged more than 4,000 flight hours on over 50 different types of aircraft, including the Airbus A300 Zero-G, which is in service with Novespace.

In addition to his test pilot work, Perrin was selected to become an astronaut in 1996. He was assigned to the STS 111 space shuttle mission to the International Space Station, where he performed three space walks.

Perrin is now assigned to future projects at Airbus, including future programmes and improved flight controls.

Martin Scheuermann - Test Pilot

Martin Scheuermann joined Airbus in 2001 as a test pilot. Previously, he trained in the army and the navy – including flying the Breguet-Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft – and qualified as a pilot with Lufthansa.

In 1993, he qualified as a test pilot at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School in California. From 1994 to 1998, he worked as a test pilot on transport aircraft, and in particular on the Breguet-Atlantic ATL and Aérospatiale/Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm Transall. Before coming to Airbus, he was employed as an instructor at the French test pilot school in Istres.

Wolfgang Brueggemann - Flight Test Engineer

Wolfgang Brueggemann graduated from the Empire Test Pilots' School in 1993 as Flight Test Engineer.

After graduation, he worked in the Airbus Production Flight Test Department until he was nominated to Development Flight Test in 2000.

Beyond general aircraft testing, he is specialised in systems flight testing on all Airbus aircraft types. He has accumulated approximately 3,000 flight test hours on all Airbus types.

Brueggemann joined Airbus in Hamburg as a systems development engineer in 1980. After moving to Airbus in Toulouse in 1983, he participated within the chief engineer teams in the systems design of the A320 and A340.

Stephane Vaux - Flight Test Engineer

Stephane Vaux was appointed flight test engineer in 2001 after working in the Airbus Design Office for eight years, both in Toulouse and Hamburg.

As a flight test engineer, he has accumulated more than 1,500 flight hours on all Airbus aircraft types. He is involved in the development tests and in the handling qualities and flight control systems aspects of all Airbus aircraft types.

He began his flight test career in 1997 as a ground engineer specialising in handling qualities and flight control systems.

Pascal Verneau - Flight Test Engineer

Pascal Verneau started his career in flight test in 1993 and joined Airbus’ flight test division in 1999. At Airbus, he participated in the development tests of the A340-600, then became aircraft manager for the second flight test A380 aircraft. Since the beginning of the A380 certification campaign, he has flown 2,500 hours on Airbus’ 21st century flagship jetliner.

Verneau has accumulated more than 8,000 flight hours on over 90 different aircraft types and helicopters.






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