China's - Orient Aviation

COVER STORYengine is under way.“ We h ave f low nsomething like another1,000 f light hours sincetype certification, hourswhich were purely orientedon getting [the A380’s]maturity really stabilised,”said Heinen. “This givesus, and more importantlyour customers, confidencethat now they can see it andknow we are really ready forentry into service.”The giant jumbo haslanded in Singapore, HongKong, Sydney, Japan,Taiwan, Thailand, Indiaand Vietnam in the last sixmonths where airline executives, uncertainwhether to buy, have been duly wooed. Itwas slated to go to Beijing, Shanghai andGuangzhou in late October, bringing airportsvisited worldwide close to 60. Next up is aU.S. trip where major airlines looking toreplace older B747s are the target.“This aircraft is a fantastic thing,” saidHeinen. “It has an emotional footprint foreverybody who touches it or flies in it.”‘[The A380] is thebest aircraft we haveever done’Richard CarcailletA380 director, ProductMarketingRichard Carcaillet, A380director, product marketing,is one of that group. Hejoined the programme in1996, four years before itslaunch and has been with itever since.He sees the early team’sbrainchild becoming anaviation icon. “I’m one ofthe old warriors, but now,that’s it. We’ve arrivedand the aircraft is going toenter commercial service,”he said.“Within the next two tothree years, you will seeA380s not only at hubsin major cities, but flyingpoint-to-point, big points mind you. That’sthe role of the aircraft.“When it was just a notion, it was niceto discuss its capabilities, its economics,what you can do with the cabin product andso on. But to fly on it is something entirelydifferent.”“The most positive point is that by somemargin, irrespective of the industrial side,but in terms of aircraft development andmeeting our targets, this is the best aircraftwe have ever done,” he said.• Charles Champion is now executivevice-president, customer services atAirbus.A380 order bookAirbus has firm orders and commitmentsfor 189 A380s. Of these 66 have beenordered by Asian carriers.Orders: Air France (12), China SouthernAirlines (5), Emirates Airline (47), EtihadAirways (4), ILFC (10), Kingfisher Airlines(5), Korean Air (5), Lufthansa GermanAirlines (15), Malaysia Airlines (6), QantasAirways (20), Qatar Airways (5), SingaporeAirlines (19), Thai Airways International (6),Virgin Atlantic Airways (6).Total: 165Commitments: British Airways (12),Emirates Airline (8) Grupo Marsans (4)Total: 24TIMELINE – The making of the A3801993: A3XX integrated team formed1993: Joint study with Boeing begins. It ends in 19951996: Large aircraft division formed and work on designsfor as yet unnamed aircraft begins1998: All major dimensions finalisedJuly 2000:Dec 2000:March 2001:July 2001:June 2002:Aug 2002:Aug 2003:March 2003:April 2004:April 2004:May 2004:July 2004:Jan 2005:First Letter of Intent received from Emirates AirlineAirbus board approves programme launchSearch for equipment vendors gets under waySingapore Airlines makes firm order for 10 A380sand becomes launch customerProduction programme officially starts with cuttingof first metal at NantesFirst metal for wings cuts at FiltonFuselage assembly starts at Saint NazaireFirst run for Trent 900, Rolls-Royce’s A380 engineFirst wing and fuselage deliveriesEngine Alliance completes initial testing ofGP7200 engineFinal assembly line officially inauguratedProduction ramp-up beginsFirst aircraft takes a bow at A380 “reveal”March 2005:April 2005:May 2005:June 2005:June 2005:Nov 2005:Jan 2006:Feb 2006:March 2006:July 2006:Sept 2006:Oct 2006:Oct 2006:Dec 2006:March 2007:April 2007:Oct 2007:First six-vehicle convoy arrives in Toulouse withmajor aircraft sections on boardFirst A380 moves to flight test centreFirst flight at ToulouseA380 appears at Paris Air ShowFirst delivery delays announcedA380’s first visit to the Asia-Pacific begins withtouchdown in SingaporeA380 lands in Columbia for hot and high testingAircraft flies to northern Canada for testing inextreme coldMaiden flight of SIA’s first A380Second delivery delays announcedFirst passenger flightFinal delivery delays announcedTechnical route proving beginsCertification completedFirst touch down in the U.S.Cabin furnishing for SIA beginsDelivery to SIA and entry into service22 ORIENT AVIATION NOVEMBER 2007