Wed, Sep 02, 2009
BA Brings Scheduled Long-Haul Flights To City Center
Airports
Airbus has delivered the first of two A318 aircraft equipped
with 'steep approach' capability to British Airways. The A318 is
the largest commercial aircraft certified to land at steeper than
usual gradients and has the potential to transform long haul travel
between city centers, saving time and cost to the business
traveller. The delivery makes the carrier a new operator of all
four members of the A320 Family, allowing British Airways to
benefit from the fullest possible advantages of Airbus' unique
operational and maintenance commonalities.
The "Steep Approach" A318 is certified for a 5.5° approach
slope. This compares to a nominal 3° slope for standard
operations. During "Steep Approach" certification the aircraft has
to demonstrate it can safely achieve a 7.5° angle, equivalent
to the targeted angle plus a 2° safety margin.
The A318's 'steep approach' capability makes it ideal for
operations out of mountainous or otherwise constrained locations
such as urban area airports where the aircraft also satisfies
strict low noise regulations. British Airways A318s will each be
equipped with two CFM 56-5B9/3 engines.
Willie Walsh, British Airways' chief executive said: "The A318s
were specially ordered for the twice-daily London City - JFK
service because of their size, flexibility and 'steep approach'
capability and will reinforce our unrivalled schedule between two
of the world's greatest financial centers. The A318 may be our
smallest aircraft but it has a big role to play in bringing a new
dimension of style and convenience to the London - New York route
and shows our determination to invest in the future."
"The A318 has the best capability and range of any commercial
aircraft serving city center airports. It enables operators to open
new premium routes with enhanced cabin comfort standards thanks to
the widest fuselage of any single-aisle aircraft," said John Leahy,
Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.
The two A318s ordered will join a fleet of 11 A321s, 37 A320s
and 33 A319s already in service. British Airways has a further nine
A320s and 12 A380s on firm order from Airbus.
More News
Airbus Racer Demonstrator Makes Inaugural Flight Airbus Helicopters' ambitious Racer demonstrator has achieved its inaugural flight as part of the Clean Sky 2 initiative, a corners>[...]
A little Bit Quieter, Said Testers, But in the End it's Still a DA40 Diamond Aircraft recently completed a little pilot project with Lufthansa Aviation Training, putting a pair of >[...]
Line Up And Wait (LUAW) Used by ATC to inform a pilot to taxi onto the departure runway to line up and wait. It is not authorization for takeoff. It is used when takeoff clearance >[...]
Contributing To The Accident Was The Pilot’s Use Of Methamphetamine... Analysis: The pilot departed on a local flight to perform low-altitude maneuvers in a nearby desert val>[...]
From 2015 (YouTube Version): Overcoming Obstacles To Achieve Their Dreams… At EAA AirVenture 2015, FedEx arrived with one of their Airbus freight-hauling aircraft and placed>[...]
Airbus Racer Helicopter Demonstrator First Flight Part of Clean Sky 2 Initiative
See All