The Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial airliner with
555 seats, landed at Shanghai Pudong Airport on Thursday night on
the last leg of a 10-day trial flight.
Powered by four Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines the A380 started
its technical trial journey on November 13 to carry out function
and reliability tests at key airports around the world.
The trial requires the aircraft to complete more than 150 flight
hours on a continuous, typical airline schedule and perform in its
normal operational environment.
Starting from Toulouse, France, the route comprises 10 airports.
To date the aircraft has visited Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong,
Narita, Guangzhou and Beijing.
The A380 will have to demonstrate that it can be turned around
as per normal airline operations. Tests will include checks on
standard maintenance and performance as well as typical airport
operations and compatibility such as bridge docking, cleaning,
catering, refueling and boarding procedures.
The trials are expected to be completed in the middle of
December after the plane's last trial fight over South Africa,
Canada, Australia, the South and North Poles.
So far five Airbus A380 planes have successfully completed their
trial flights and orders for 166 aircraft from 15 customers,
including an order for five from China Southern Airlines, have been
received by the manufacturers.?
(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2006)
