The Airbus A330-900 flight test aircraft has recently conducted ‘hot and high’ tests in Bolivia.

A330-900 flight test aircraft F-WTTN (c/n 1795) flew to Toluca in Mexico and La Paz to conduct a two-week test programme to prove the aircraft and engine performance in high-altitude warm and humid airport environments.

The tests were part of the manufacturer’s objective of expanding and certifying the range of airports from where the A330neo can operate. Up to now, the type has been approved to fly from hubs that are up to 8,000ft (2,440m) elevation. However, following certification – which is expected in the first quarter of next year – the widebody will be able to serve airports that are up to 12,500ft (3,810m) in elevation, such as Lhasa in Tibet; Bogota, Toluca, Quito and Mexico in Central and South America, and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Africa.

Captain Franck Busnel, the mission leader and test pilot, said: “By extending the envelope of operation of the A330neo, which was successful, we can show to current or new operators that the aircraft reaches the same capability of the A330ceo in terms of high-altitude operations, with the advantage that the A330neo is much more fuel efficient.”

While the primary focus of the tests conducted was to evaluate take-off and landing performance, especially since the increased altitude reduces engine thrust levels, the aircraft also conducted local flights to evaluate climb and approach performance. Other checks included multiple engine starts, system behaviour verification, low-speed taxiing and rejected take-offs. In the case of the engine starts – a crucial part of the campaign – the tests included special instrumentation to measure the starter air pressure, which would be affected by a high airport altitude.