Taken from: http://www.airbus.com/presscentre
A380 wraps up technical route proving after a final trip over both poles
30 November 2006
The world’s largest commercial airliner, the 555-seat Airbus A380, has successfully completed a series of technical route proving missions, receiving an enthusiastic welcome at each destination. Technical route proving is the last of the trials required for Type Certification, which is expected in mid-December.
Returning from its final route that took it over the North Pole, the MSN002 landed in Toulouse, France today at 1.30 pm local time (12H30 UTC). This final flight left Vancouver, Canada under heavy snow conditions, on Wednesday 29th November at 4.25 pm local time (00H25 UTC) .
The exercise took the A380 MSN002 across the globe on an 18-day trip, stopping at ten airports in the Asia/Pacific region. During the trials, the aircraft flew approximately 69,000 nm / 127,788 km in some 152 flight hours, with all flights performed on schedule. The aircraft was operated by Airbus flight crews. The Airworthiness Authority pilots from both the European Aviation Safety Agency and the US Federal Aviation Administration also participated in the technical route proving and flew the aircraft on four legs.
A major highlight of the exercise was the Johannesburg – Sydney trip over the South Pole, where the A380 demonstrated its capability to fly ultra long-range routes at maximum payload. The A380 departed Johannesburg, South Africa, its maximum take-off weight of 555 tonnes / 1,223,565 lbs and was the heaviest aircraft ever to take off from O.R. Tambo International Airport, located at 1,680 metres (5,323 feet) above sea level. This trial demonstrated the A380s excellent performance at high altitude airports. The aircraft landed at Sydney airport after a flight of around 16 hours covering a distance of 7,296 nm / 13,512km, circling the South Pole on the way.
The technical route proving started on November 13th with four trips which included visits to Singapore and Seoul on the 14th and 15th November, then to Hong Kong and Narita, Japan on 18th and 19th November. On the third trip, the aircraft went to China stopping at Guangzhou on 22nd November and Beijing and Shanghai on 23rd November. The fourth and final journey included the round-the-world trip via both poles with stops in South Africa, Australia and Canada.
At each destination, the A380 performed as expected, demonstrating that it can be turned around as per normal airline operations. Checks were made on standard maintenance and behaviour, as well as typical airport operations and compatibility. This included the monitoring of functions such as bridge docking, cleaning and catering, refuelling and boarding procedures. The automatic landing capability of the A380 was also successfully demonstrated during a local flight performed at Johannesburg.
Airbus is an EADS company.
I think airbus is keep something underwraps, i think the level of performance originally stated by airbus has been “blown” away. But another point to raise is this has this test aircraft been on the diet to remove the extra 5.5 tons or not….If it hasn’t then perhaps airbus may have learnt a trick from Boeing and not promised the earth with the planes capabilities?
By: steve rowell - 3rd December 2006 at 04:47
The Australian
AS the massive double-decker Airbus A380 pulled into a special purpose-built gate at Sydney Airport yesterday it was a case of “where the bloody hell are you?” for airport authorities.
The airport has spent $90 million preparing for the big plane, including the two-level gate capable of servicing one door on the plane’s upper deck and two on the lower level.
But production delays mean that, despite yesterday’s arrival, the superjumbo will not enter service next month, as planned. And the impressive gate will have to service lesser aircraft until late next year.
Sydney Airport has been preparing for the A380’s arrival for four years and the first of the big three-door gates, capable of handling 500 passengers with each arrival, has been ready since June.
As well as strengthening the runway over a road tunnel and widening runway shoulders, the airport widened and relocated taxiways and is adding bigger luggage carousels.
Another gate is due to be completed in mid-December and four more, as well as three layover gates, are planned as part of the $32 million still to be spent before the works are complete in mid-2008.
That will be shortly before Qantas hopes to take delivery of the first of 20 aircraft it is due to receive between August, 2008, and 2015 – and not quite a year after Singapore Airlines is due to launch the world’s first commercial service to Sydney.
Airbus A380 product marketing manager Corrin Higgs said yesterday the European plane manufacturer was confident the airlines would get their new planes according to the revised schedule.
Asked whether the schedule was set in stone, he said: “I wouldn’t say set in stone, we can’t guarantee the future. But I think we’ve made sure our predictions are correct this time because I don’t think that our customers are willing to accept further delays.”
But Airbus officials are confident the big plane will be certified by US and European regulatory authorities next month.
This week’s visit is the last of four technical route-proving test flights that will conclude the certification program. The four flights required the superjumbo to complete function and reliability tests at key airports around the world involving 150 hours flying in a normal operating environment.
This flight went from Airbus’ home in Toulouse, France, to Johannesburg, South Africa, and then non-stop across the South Pole to Sydney. It will leave today for Vancouver in Canada before returning to Toulouse via the North Pole.
The A380 nominally carries 555 people in three classes, but the three carriers who will initially be servicing Australia with the plane – Singapore, Emirates and Qantas – have all opted for lower passenger numbers to accommodate new seating and options such as bars
By: steve rowell - 2nd December 2006 at 09:22
It hardly caused a stir here when it landed in Sydney…i think it only made on one of the news channels
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December 1, 2006 at 5:12 am