By Max Kingsley-Jones in Toulouse
Slips in schedule leave little margin to achieve target of 2006 delivery to SIA
Airbus has a battle on its hands if it is to complete certification of the A380 in time to deliver the first aircraft to Singapore Airlines (SIA) before the end of the year.
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Although the European Aviation Safety Agency says the certification schedule is unchanged from its point of view and “is to be completed by the end of 2006”, Airbus had been targeting certification in October. This date was established under the previously revised schedule implemented in mid-2005, when the original six-month delay pushed first deliveries to launch operator SIA back from the second quarter to the last quarter of 2006.
But Airbus chief operating officer customers John Leahy tells Flight International that certification is scheduled for “the end of December”, which leaves no margin for further slips. “We’ll deliver to SIA straight after,” he adds.
| A380 DELIVERY CHANGES | |||
| Year | Old plan | New plan | Difference |
| 2006 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 | 20-25 | 9 | 11-16 |
| 2008 | 35 | 26-30 | 5-9 |
| 2009 | 45 | 40 | 5 |
| Total | 102-107 | 76-80 | 5 |
| Note: forecast beyond 2007 is “worst-case scenario” and therefore provisional Source: Airbus | |||
Airbus had been due to undertake a series of “early long flights” (ELF) from Toulouse by mid-2006 using MSN002 – which is the first to be equipped with a full cabin – carrying Airbus employees as passengers.
However, this test, to gain early feedback for the 300h route-proving effort required for certification using another cabin-equipped A380 (MSN007), has slipped to September, says Airbus senior vice-president flight test Claude Lelaie. “MSN002 is about to start the noise tests as it is the first with production-standard engines. We are then into the [French] holiday period so we’ll do the ELFs in September,” says Lelaie. Route-proving had been set for September, but is not now scheduled to take place until the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, the first Engine Alliance GP7200-powered A380 remains on the ground in Toulouse waiting to fly. Flight-testing of this aircraft had been due to start by May, but it will not take to the air until next month, says Lelaie.
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| SIA will still be "first to fly" the A380, but the delay means the giant will not enter service until next year |
A full breakdown of A380 aircraft currently in production is featured below.
| AIRBUS A380 PRODUCTION BREAKDOWN | |
| Manufacturer's serial number (MSN) | Status |
| Completed aircraft that have flown: | |
| 001 | In flight test |
| 002 | In flight test (cabin and noise trials) |
| 003 | First for Singapore Airlines (SIA). In Airbus's Hamburg Finkenwerder facility undergoing cabin installation |
| 004 | In flight test |
| 007 | For flight test (route-proving). In Hamburg undergoing cabin installation |
| Assembled aircraft yet to fly: | |
| 005 | For SIA. Undergoing acceptance trials outside in Toulouse for flight-test ahead of ferry to Hamburg for cabin installation |
| 006 | For SIA. In Toulouse assembly hangar undergoing pre-equipping |
| 008 | For SIA. In Toulouse assembly hangar undergoing pre-equipping |
| 009 | Stored outside at Toulouse awaiting start of Engine Alliance GP7200 flight-test programme |
| 010 | For SIA. In Toulouse assembly hangar undergoing pre-equipping |
| 011 | First for Emirates. In Toulouse assembly hangar undergoing pre-equipping |
| 012 | For SIA. In Toulouse assembly hangar undergoing pre-equipping |
| 014 | First for Qantas. In Toulouse assembly hangar undergoing pre-equipping |
| Note: Two forward fuselage sections – MSN013 (second for Emirates) and MSN015 (second for Qantas) – and three wing sets have also been delivered to Toulouse and are being worked on ahead of assembly. | |
Source: Flight International
