EADS subsidiary will design premium cabin furnishings for two test aircraft used for long-range demonstration flights
EADS Sogerma Services has been designated by sister company Airbus as an interior supplier for the A380, and landed a key contract to provide the premium-cabin furnishings for two A380 aircraft that will participate in the flight-test programme. The two furnished aircraft will carry out cabin trials that will include long-range demonstration flights towards the end of the test programme.
Four A380s will be dedicated to the flight-test programme, which is due to begin in the first quarter of next year. The third - manufacturer's serial number (MSN) 002 - and fourth (MSN007) to fly will be furnished as they will participate in cabin trials, route proving and test flights with passengers.
The passenger tests will begin towards the end of the flight-test programme - late 2005 at the earliest - says Airbus. The manufacturer plans to operate "early long-range" test flights of up to 12h or more with its own staff onboard, as it did with the A340-600. A380 customers may also participate in the tests, it adds.
EADS Sogerma Services has been contracted to supply a first-class interior for MSN002 along with cabin furnishings and business-class lounge areas. It will supply the first and business class interiors for MSN007.
While the cabin of MSN002 is expected to be only partially furnished, MSN007 will incorporate a full economy cabin from another supplier yet to be disclosed, as it is to undertake the A380 route-proving programme. The furnished A380s will also be used for air conditioning tests.
Airbus has chosen Florida, USA-based L-3 Aviation Recorders to provide the A380's flight data and cockpit voice recorders (FDR/CVR).
The solid-state FDR can record 25h of high-rate flight and maintenance data in a crash-survivable unit, says L-3. It is, however, designed to be an integral part of the aircraft's maintenance and diagnostic system, and to provide continual updates on its operational status to the central maintenance computer. The CVR provides a 2h readback of flightcrew voice communications and cockpit ambient sound, but will in addition record digital air traffic control messages, instructions and acknowledgements sent using controller/pilot datalink communications.
ROB COPPINGER / HAMBURG
Source: Flight International
