Yes it was run the Civil Cert route (as was the J Herc before it). However this was the choice of the customer nations as it has some perceived advantages. The problem is the Civil authority's dislike of redundant capability (ie Military stuff) within a system. The one that mystifies me was the Oxygen supply, the Specification/Contract for the A400M called for it to be able to depressurise and fly around at altitude with the ramp and cargo door open to allow member of the Regiment to keep their para wings. The Oxygen system that allows crew and pax to do this would not pass Civil Cert, so for initial certification the aircraft was fitted with a civil O2 system. For Military Cert that system had to be removed and replaced with a military system which was capable of doing all that the civvies required as well as the military needs. Why do a job once when you can do it twice and charge more?
