90-Minute Turnaround Times Deemed Adequate

It took seven days, involved 100 tests and over 2,000 people... but compatibility tests for the new Airbus A380 at Dubai International Airport has been successfully demonstrated, Emirates told ANN this week.

With an onboard team of almost 80 Airbus personnel participating in the test program, the A380 took off from Dubai Tuesday, having effectively concluded a rigorous campaign of operability tests, both in normal and extreme temperature conditions.

During its week-long Dubai visit -- one of the longest customer trials to date for Airbus -- the MSN 007 aircraft was the centerpiece of numerous compatibility tests, including taxiway, runway and ground support equipment tests as well as docking trials at the terminal gate and in the state-of-the-art Emirates Engineering Center.

Looking to familiarize its staff with the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft, Emirates -- along with Airbus -- conducted four test flights that converged key units of the airline such as Airport Services, Inflight Catering, Cabin Crew, Flight Operations, Cargo, Inflight Systems, Engineering and Maintenance, Group Security and Dnata Airport Operations.

Two of the test flights were operated in the morning during Dubai International Airport's busiest time, followed by two flights later in the afternoon. The flights each lasted two hours and were flown over the UAE, operating at almost 80 percent load factor -- the average seat factor experienced by the Dubai-based airline.

Even with 40 percent more passengers on average per flight, the A380's turnaround time between each of the two test flights on August 17 and 18 was fixed at 90 minutes. Boarding of passengers was conducted primarily by airline staff via double-decker airbridges, as well as buses on the tarmac.

The hot weather operability tests concluded with the smooth docking of the A380 at Hangar C in Emirates Engineering Center later in the week. The dock fabricated and commissioned by UAE-based Excel Industries will allow full access to all areas of the aircraft for heavy maintenance and simultaneously ensure a safe, stable and efficient working environment up to 78.5 feet above ground level.

"Emirates is delighted at the successful completion of a long and comprehensive test campaign with Airbus. Members of Emirates’ staff, drawn from various operational departments, were able to familiarize themselves with the aircraft, ahead of its entry into the airline’s fleet," said Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Executive Vice President, Engineering and Operations.

Emirates has ordered 55 A380s.

FMI: www.emirates.com/usa, www.airbus.com