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.