>> Airbus A380 flies to Frankfurt


THE FIRST A380 aircraft (MSN001) has begun a series of airport compatibility tests around the world. Frankfurt airport in Germany was the first to receive it from Toulouse early morning 29th October. The airport compatibility tests that took place on Saturday included landing, taxiing, docking at a terminal, checking passenger boarding bridge positioning, and take-off. There were also routine ground procedures such as loading baggage and food supplies, cleaning and refuelling. Airbus representatives are very satisfied with the testing.

The flight test aircraft cabin is fitted with flight-test instrumentation, measuring equipment and ballast tanks that can be filled with water to simulate the weight of a full passenger load and cargo.

Allowed onto the tarmac at the former military section of the airport, thousands turned up to view the aircraft despite the obscuring morning fog. The aircraft and its six crew members will return to Toulouse on Sunday morning.

With over 100 flights and over 360 flight hours, the first A380 (MSN001) is ahead of the test programme schedule and showing very good results.

Next, for the first time since the A380 took to the skies, the aircraft will leave Europe for airports in Asia. Singapore will be the first airport outside Europe to receive the A380 aircraft on November 8 for its next aircraft compatibility testing. Subsequent destinations are Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Meanwhile, the second of the five A380 (MSN004) test aircraft successfully took to the air on 18th October over southwestern France. This aircraft will join the first A380 (MSN001) in the flight test campaign that started on 27th April.


Acknowledgement with thanks to SIA A380 Team:
Update dated 2 Nov 2005 published in 'Stay Up To Date On SIA A380 Issue 06/05'.