Marking its first step in the gradual build-up towards becoming the world’s largest operator of the A380 super-jumbo, Emirates Airline, customer of 55 of the 173 aircraft ordered and committed thus far, is gearing up to jointly conduct hot weather operability tests with Airbus on the aircraft in Dubai, starting 15th August.
The tests, beginning with hot weather trials and followed by technical training later in the year, are part of an extensive campaign by Emirates to prepare for the A380’s smooth entry into the airline’s fleet in 2008; and add to the extreme weather testing conducted by Airbus in the Middle East and Africa last year.
The aircraft, MSN007, will undergo airport compatibility checks, on-ground and in-flight service checks, and ground handling and maintenance procedure tests during its seven-day Dubai stay.
Flown by Airbus test pilots, and experienced and trained Emirates pilots, two flights each will take to the Dubai skies on 17th and 18th August, operating on back-to-back schedules with a two-hour turnaround period.
Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Executive Vice President, Engineering and Operations said: “Having worked closely with Airbus in the design and development of the A380, we are delighted to be collaborating with them once again to test the ground handling aspects of the aircraft and its operational performance in normal and extreme conditions.”
“Between now and the final date of delivery, there will be more opportunities to test the aircraft’s systems including the unique cabin interiors. It is our aim to continue working on perfecting the operational procedures - on the ground and in the air – to ensure 100 percent readiness when Emirates’ first A380 enters service next year.”
To simulate normal operating conditions, 517 passengers, representing Emirates staff from across the network, selected randomly from over 11,000 applications to fly on the test flights, will undergo all pre-flight formalities. These include check-in through self-service kiosks and boarding via double-decker bridges at fixed gates - already in place to ensure A380-comptability. To test tarmac boarding, passengers will board through remote gates that require up to ten buses carrying 50 passengers each to reach the aircraft.
Emirates has strengthened its pre-flight operations to handle the larger volumes - on an average 40 percent more passengers per flight. When in the skies, the passengers will be attended to by 22 cabin crew and served a complete refreshment service.
During the tight turnaround interval, cleaning crew will test their operations, Emirates Flight Catering will load food trolleys using a special A380 hi-loader, cargo and baggage loading will be simulated, and ground support equipment will be deployed – all in addition to the deplaning of the existing passengers and boarding of the subsequent batch.
The campaign will also afford opportunities to Emirates Engineering to familiarise itself - literally – with the nuts and bolts of the aircraft. Engineering staff together with Airbus personnel will conduct routine maintenance of the aircraft, including main wheel and nose wheel changes, engine cowling opening, and cabin systems checks.
A critical component of the testing programme is the full-docking trials in the new Dhs1.3-billion Emirates Engineering Centre. The A380-compatible facility can house eighteen A380 aircraft; one in each of the eight hangars, nine in the dedicated parking bays outside the hangars, and one in the engine run up facility. The hangars’ dimensions are aligned to the A380 facilities constructed by Airbus at its headquarters in Toulouse.
The tests, beginning with hot weather trials and followed by technical training later in the year, are part of an extensive campaign by Emirates to prepare for the A380’s smooth entry into the airline’s fleet in 2008; and add to the extreme weather testing conducted by Airbus in the Middle East and Africa last year.
The aircraft, MSN007, will undergo airport compatibility checks, on-ground and in-flight service checks, and ground handling and maintenance procedure tests during its seven-day Dubai stay.
Flown by Airbus test pilots, and experienced and trained Emirates pilots, two flights each will take to the Dubai skies on 17th and 18th August, operating on back-to-back schedules with a two-hour turnaround period.
Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Executive Vice President, Engineering and Operations said: “Having worked closely with Airbus in the design and development of the A380, we are delighted to be collaborating with them once again to test the ground handling aspects of the aircraft and its operational performance in normal and extreme conditions.”
“Between now and the final date of delivery, there will be more opportunities to test the aircraft’s systems including the unique cabin interiors. It is our aim to continue working on perfecting the operational procedures - on the ground and in the air – to ensure 100 percent readiness when Emirates’ first A380 enters service next year.”
To simulate normal operating conditions, 517 passengers, representing Emirates staff from across the network, selected randomly from over 11,000 applications to fly on the test flights, will undergo all pre-flight formalities. These include check-in through self-service kiosks and boarding via double-decker bridges at fixed gates - already in place to ensure A380-comptability. To test tarmac boarding, passengers will board through remote gates that require up to ten buses carrying 50 passengers each to reach the aircraft.
Emirates has strengthened its pre-flight operations to handle the larger volumes - on an average 40 percent more passengers per flight. When in the skies, the passengers will be attended to by 22 cabin crew and served a complete refreshment service.
During the tight turnaround interval, cleaning crew will test their operations, Emirates Flight Catering will load food trolleys using a special A380 hi-loader, cargo and baggage loading will be simulated, and ground support equipment will be deployed – all in addition to the deplaning of the existing passengers and boarding of the subsequent batch.
The campaign will also afford opportunities to Emirates Engineering to familiarise itself - literally – with the nuts and bolts of the aircraft. Engineering staff together with Airbus personnel will conduct routine maintenance of the aircraft, including main wheel and nose wheel changes, engine cowling opening, and cabin systems checks.
A critical component of the testing programme is the full-docking trials in the new Dhs1.3-billion Emirates Engineering Centre. The A380-compatible facility can house eighteen A380 aircraft; one in each of the eight hangars, nine in the dedicated parking bays outside the hangars, and one in the engine run up facility. The hangars’ dimensions are aligned to the A380 facilities constructed by Airbus at its headquarters in Toulouse.
