MICHAEL PHELAN / TOULOUSE
Airbus is to ship a set of A380 wings to Liverpool, UK, next year as a contingency against possible problems at Mostyn Docks. The manufacturer has also revealed that it will increase the amount of Glare material in the aircraft's structure to save weight.
The A380's wings will travel by barge down the River Dee from the Broughton, UK, assembly facility for transfer at Mostyn to the Ville de Bordeaux ship for transportation to St Nazaire and Pauillac, France. However, the Mostyn plan may be dependent on negotiations about using the P&O Ferries berth, which Airbus wants to use after abandoning plans for its own (Flight International, 15-21 July).
Charles Champion, Airbus executive vice president A380 programme, says the manufacturer is considering the use of Liverpool docks, which is the nearest to Mostyn, as an alternative barge-to-ship transfer location. "We're very confident that we can use the P&O berth, but we've got a contingency just in case," says Champion.
Using Liverpool would require some travel in open sea, says Champion. "We've made modifications that will allow us to use the barge on the sea in calm weather." Whatever the outcome of the talks, Airbus will ship at least one set of wings to Liverpool for a trial.
Meanwhile, Robert Lafontan, Airbus senior vice president engineering A380 programme, says Glare will now be used for the A380's D-nose vertical tail leading edge. "Birdstrike testing in December last year showed it had the right properties," he says, but he declines to reveal weight savings. Airbus has released 73% of drawings to manufacturing.
Champion says the main manufacturing problems have been minor distortions on the wing and the large fuselage (section 15/21) assemblies, due to their size, weight and material combination. "We'll correct that with experience," he says.
Source: Flight International
