Qantas Airways plans to convert four Airbus A330 aircraft at the airline's engineering division at Brisbane Airport into tanker transports for the Royal Australian Air Force.

Qantas engineering Chief David Cox said: "The decision to choose Brisbane Airport was influenced by its on-site facilities and compatibility with RAAF A330 operations at the nearby RAAF Base at Amberley."

A Brisbane hangar is being adapted for the conversion, which will take up to six months per aircraft.

"Conversion of the aircraft is a major project involving substantial changes to the aircraft structure, operating systems and avionics to incorporate fuel receptacle capabilities, storage, distribution and dispensing systems," Mr. Cox said, adding that the project would run into 2010 and lead to the recruitment and training of 100 specialist and engineering staff.

Qantas landed the contract after successfully launching a joint bid in 2004 by EADS CASA and Qantas to provide the RAAF with a tanker version of the A330-200.