MAX KINGSLEY-JONES / TOULOUSE
Airbus expects approval for new long-range model in May but has not yet finalised route proving plans with customers
Airbus is about to enter the final stages of certification trials of the Rolls-Royce Trent 500-powered A340-600, as the manufacturer prepares to begin flight-tests on its ultra-long-range sister model, the A340-500, next month.
Flight-testing of the 380-seat A340-600, which began in April, has gone smoothly, says Airbus. The three aircraft allocated for testing have accumulated 1,043h of the 1,600h planned for the programme, which is due to be completed by March, according to Gordon McConnell, chief engineer long-range programme. "European JAA [Joint Aviation Authorities] and FAA [US Federal Aviation Administration] certification, as a derivative of the A340-200/300, is expected on schedule in early May," he says.
The first A340-600 hand-over is due in mid-2002. However, deliveries to Virgin Atlantic, which was scheduled to take the first aircraft, are in doubt after the airline told Airbus it is deferring the four aircraft due this year. Meanwhile, orders held by troubled Swissair/Flightlease, due to be another early operator, have been cancelled. Airbus concedes that discussions are continuing with customers about deliveries, but will not confirm the status of schedules.
It is not clear who will be involved in the A340-600 route-proving flights in March, which are traditionally carried out with launch customers. Airbus, which has already operated simulated passenger flights with employees, declines to identify who will participate in route-proving trials: "We are finalising the plan for the programme in conjunction with customers," it says.
The manufacturer says it originally planned to deliver 16 of the new A340 models this year, but that the current uncertainty in the airline industry makes it difficult to assess what the actual tally will be.
Meanwhile the first A340-500 has finished its ground-vibration testing in Toulouse and the aircraft is due to begin test-flying in February, with certification expected in October, says McConnell.
Much of the data from the -600's trials will be applicable to the -500, so the flight-test programme will use just one aircraft and will last a relatively short 340h, focusing on performance. Around 30h of route-proving will also be flown using a fully furnished aircraft, ahead of deliveries to launch customer Air Canada at the end of the year.
Airbus is offering an optional (and retrofitable) 3t increase in maximum take-off weight to 368t on all -500/600s to cater for the increased weight of cabin equipment since the aircraft's specification was originally finalised.
McConnell says that a weight saving programme is under way which is expected to bring the new A340 models within 0.4% of the originally specified empty weight by aircraft number 23.
Source: Flight International
