Emirates and Airbus conclude week-long tests

Seven days, 100 tests, and more than 2000 people involved: the A380’s compatibility at Dubai International Airport has been successfully demonstrated. With an onboard team of almost 80 Airbus personnel that participated in the test programme, the 21st century flagship aircraft took off from Dubai at 10:00 hours on Tuesday, having effectively concluded a rigorous campaign of operability tests, both in normal and extreme temperature conditions.

During its week-long Dubai visit, marking one of the longest customer trials for Airbus, the aircraft, MSN 007, was the centrepiece of numerous compatibility tests including taxiway, runway and ground support equipment tests, as well as docking trials at the terminal gate and in the state-of-the-art Emirates Engineering Centre.

Seeking to familiarise its staff with the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft, Emirates, jointly with Airbus, conducted four test flights that brought into play all key units of the airline such as Airport Services, Inflight Catering, Cabin Crew, Flight Operations, Cargo, Inflight Systems, Engineering and Maintenance, Group Security, and Dnata Airport Operations.

From the time the test campaign was conceived, Emirates was clear – tests must be as real as possible and conducted under typical airline conditions. Two of the test flights were operated in the morning when Dubai International Airport was at its busiest, followed by two flights later in the afternoon. The flights, each two hours in duration and flown over the UAE, were operated at almost 80 percent load factor – the average seat factor experienced by the Dubai-based airline.

Even with 40 percent more passengers on average per flight, the A380’s turnaround time between each of the two test flights on 17th and 18th August was fixed at 90 minutes. Boarding of passengers, comprising mostly airline staff, was conducted via double-decker aerobridges as well as off stand through buses on tarmac.

The hot weather operability tests culminated with the smooth docking of the A380 at Hangar C in Emirates Engineering Centre later in the week. The dock fabricated and commissioned by UAE-based Excel Industries will allow full access to all areas of the aircraft for heavy maintenance, while at the same time ensure a safe, stable and efficient working environment up to 24 metres above ground level.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Executive Vice President, Engineering and Operations said: “Emirates is delighted at the successful completion of a long and comprehensive test campaign with Airbus. Emirates’ staff, drawn from various operational departments, were able to familiarise themselves with the aircraft, ahead of its entry into the airline’s fleet.”

“Our staff from all corners of the world including Australia, Bahrain, the United Kingdom, Korea and Mauritius arrived into Dubai to volunteer as passengers for the test flights, bearing testimony to the campaign’s overwhelming response. It was an extremely gratifying moment when the first flight lifted off the runway amidst a ripple of applause, both from the onboard passengers and from ground staff on the tarmac.”

Al Redha added: “Emirates has worked closely with Airbus in the design and development of the A380, as the airframe moved from concept to the drawing board and on to the production line. We will continue to work together to test the aircraft’s systems between now and August 2008 when Emirates is expected to take delivery of its first A380.”

Emirates has ordered 55 A380s. With forecasts indicating a doubling of air traffic in the next 15 years, and a corresponding increase in flight frequencies not being an option on many routes due to slot constraints, the A380 – the world’s largest aircraft – is aptly designed for world growth, while at the same time minimizing impact on the environment.

Some trials conducted during A380’s Dubai visit:

Cabin crew familiarisation trials
Ground power compatibility tests
Cabin cooling using ground carts
Refuelling
Catering trials using upper deck accessible hi-loader vehicles
Toilet and potable water vehicle testing and system servicing
Pushback tractor tests and towing
Galley inserts operational tests
Main and nose wheel change
Brake change
Engine cowls opening
Software loading demonstration

For more information, visit Emirates.com.