Andrew Doyle/TOULOUSE
Airbus Industrie is accelerating development of the freighter version of its proposed A3XX ultra-high capacity airliner, in response to strong demand from potential operators.
The consortium has also revised the design of the cargo variant, to carry an increased payload of 150t over 10,545km (5,700nm) following recent discussions with airlines including Cargolux, FedEx, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.
Airbus vice-president market development, large aircraft division, Philippe Jarry says: "A group of airlines are actually demanding that we make the freighter available really soon. We didn't think we'd have such a positive response."
Jarry says the cargo variant could be the first major A3XX derivative to be developed, around two years later than the basic 550-seat passenger aircraft, but ahead of planned extended-range and stretched versions. "More and more I believe this will be so, but it will be market driven," he says.
Accommodating a 150t payload, which Jarry says is equivalent to carrying 1,500 passengers in terms of weight, will require significant structural strengthening of the airframe. Earlier studies had envisaged payloads limited to around 125t, allowing more range.
Jarry says airlines have asked for the higher weights to provide a "step change" from the 747-400F, which is capable of carrying a payload of over 100t.
Meanwhile, Jarry says the consortium is still "fighting" to achieve the promised 15% reduction in direct operating costs, compared with the 747-400, for the A3XX-100 passenger aircraft. It has still not given the go-ahead for the use of the Glare metal/composite material for the upper fuselage, because of concerns over maintainability, but is moving ahead with plans to reduce the size of the horizontal stabiliser by lowering the aerodynamic stability of the "fly-by-wire" design (Flight International, 24-30 March).
Airbus plans to select the final assembly location for the A3XXthis year, and agree basic work allocations, outsourcing contracts and initial production rates. It is aiming to secure authority to offer the aircraft to airlines from the Airbus supervisory board at the end of the year. A launch decision is planned for the second half of next year, with entry into service scheduled for mid-2005.
Source: Flight International
