The recent issues “shouldn’t detract from the fact that we’ve had very few problems. The pilots are delighted with the responsiveness, and we’ve delivered the last but one [of the] software releases,” Henley says, adding that the final load is “on track” for delivery at the end of the year.

EPI also is working through the final elements of the in-service support contract with the French air force, which is set to take the first A400M in March 2013. Along with Airbus, EPI says it is now starting the same talks with the next nations in line: Turkey, the U.K. and Germany.