Luftwaffe A400 austere landings, Wales

Noticing a NOTAM was in place for landings on the beach at MoD Pembrey sands, Wales, on the 27^th and 28^th July, we watched in anticipation to see if there would be any action on this austere landing location. On the 27^th ADSB-Exchange was showing a pair of Luftwaffe A400Ms crossing southern England heading west towards Wales. One descended into Cardiff Airport whilst the other headed towards Pembrey Sands. After watching the pair complete several passes over the beach, the decision was made that I would travel to Pembrey on the 28^th to see if they would return for a second day of training.

After a seemingly never-ending walk along the beach in the west Walian summer drizzle, we arrived to see the RAF Tactical Air Traffic Controllers setting out the austere runway markers and testing the beach to see if it was suitable for landings. ADSB-Exchange had GAF100, 54+42 and GAF117, 54+10, on the same routing as the previous day so it was looking hopeful that there would be a repeat of the operations completed on the 27^th.

Low cloud was bringing rain across the beach and one of the A400s continued to circle over the Bristol Channel with the second landing at Cardiff Airport. After a couple of hours waiting and watching the radar, it turned and headed for the beach. The first A400 completed several low passes in and around the landing pattern to assess the cloud base the A400 landing gear came down and it made the first of multiple austere and landings and departures.

Luftwaffe air crew getting some video for instagram after being dropped off after the first landing.

As the first A400 completed its final departure from Pembrey Sands and headed back towards Wunstorf, Germany, the second aircraft was already circling in for its first landing. Again, this aircraft performed multiple landings and take-offs covering the onlooking crowd with sand. It was a great display of airmanship and skill by the crews of both aircraft.

In the preceding days we contacted the 62^nd Air Transport Wing or LTG 62 (Lufttransportgeschwade) to gain more information about the austere landing training completed across the two days.

For years, the Air Force (Luftwaffe) has been using the A400M's ability to land on unpaved runways. Whether grass, gravel or sand - despite its weight of 100 tons, this is possible.

The German A400M crews have already been trained in landing on such surfaces since 2019. This capability is important, among other things, for operations of the A400M in areas with threat situations and non-existent infrastructure – also in combination with the use of night vision goggles (NVG). Nevertheless, this training was a special feature.

With extensive preparation for crew and aircraft this training represents a different challenge in planning than a "normal" flight from A to B. Flight instructor Captain Roland helped plan the project and describes the extensive preparations that were required for it. "Initially, everyone was specifically trained for these projects in the simulator with several take-offs and landings." It pays off that the LTG 62 has two Level D certified flight simulators. This means that flights with it correspond to the conditions in real life."

The weight of the aircraft used were reduced overall and the machine was separately protected with an unpaved runway (URW) kit. This is intended to minimise the stresses on the aircraft and prevent damage to sensors, for example. The greatest risks in such landings are possible rockfalls on the entire aircraft or erosion on the propeller. On a short runway with soft ground the A400M can show off its outstanding capabilities when landing at a speed of approx. 110 knots (200 km/h), on a runway with a length of just under 1,000 metres. This has once again shown what the LTG 62 has the capability of landing on beaches with its large transport plane.

Thank you to ROI Buschhorn from LTG 62 for the information related to the austere landings completed at Pembrey Sands and the RAF for allowing Airspeed Media and the other members of the public to view this training at close quarters whilst not impinging on the exercise