Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) crews have begun flight training on the first Airbus Military A330 MRTT at the company’s facilities in Spain.

The two-month training programme will allow the crews to qualify for air logistic transport and air-to-air refuelling with pods and boom.

The multi-role tanker has a basic fuel capacity of 245,000lb, which allows it to undertake air-to-air refuelling missions without additional fuel tanks.

The RSAF A330 MRTT tankers have been configured with hose and drogue under-wing pods and the Airbus Military air refuelling boom system.

The first aircraft will be delivered to the RSAF in mid-November 2011, while the second aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2012.