Mon, Sep 24, 2007
GP7000-Powered Superjumbo Will Visit Americas,
Asia-Pacific
European planemaker Airbus tells ANN its A380 MSN009 test
aircraft, powered by the new Engine Alliance GP7000 engines will
embark on a series of four tours as part of its technical route
proving.
During the certification exercise -- which aims at accumulating
150 hours of "typical airline" continuous operation -- the A380
will visit destinations in South America, North America, the Middle
East and Asia-Pacific.
The A380 will first go to Bogota, Colombia (September 26-27),
returning to its home base in Toulouse, South West France. It will
then fly to the US, landing at Windsor Locks, CT; Hebron, KY and
San Francisco, CA (October 2-5) and back to Toulouse. The route
proving will continue, flying to Dubai; Melbourne, Australia;
Manilla and Luzon in the Philippines and back to Dubai before
returning to Toulouse (October 8-13). The next destinations to be
visited are Bogota, Colombia; Vancouver, Canada and Osaka, Japan
(October 15-19).
Airbus says the technical route proving tour aims to demonstrate
the A380 can be turned around under normal airline operating
conditions. The same tours were successfully completed by test
aircraft powered by Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines in 2006.
Tests will cover, among other things, checks on standard
aircraft maintenance and behavior, as well as typical airport
operations and compatibility, confirming the aircraft's readiness
for entry into service.
Type certification for the A380 fitted with Engine Alliance
GP7000 engines is expected for December 2007, according to the
planemaker.
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