Sat, Nov 07, 2009
Start Of The Aircraft's 180-Hour Flight Test Regimen For
Certification
The new dedicated Freighter variant of the A330 flew for the
first time Thursday, a four hour flight over Toulouse. The flight
marks the start of a 180 hour flight-test and certification
campaign, and paves the way for first delivery of the type to
launch operator, Etihad Crystal Cargo, in the summer of 2010.
The new A330-200F will offer freight customers greater range and
a higher maximum payload with much lower unit costs compared with
its closest competitor. The aircraft has already gained 67 firm
orders with nine customers. In addition to these orders, the
aircraft has been selected by a tenth customer - Turkish Airlines -
following the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
for two A330-200Fs. Furthermore, there are other ongoing campaigns
in progress where airlines are showing serious interest in the
aircraft.
Airbus Chief Operating Officer - Customers, John Leahy said:
"The efficient A330-200F is very well adapted to today’s
market dynamics of rising fuel prices and increased pressure on
yields." He adds: "The A330-200F is the right aircraft at the right
time. We are at the eve of a market recovery, and now is the time
for airlines to prepare for future freight growth."
Airbus sees the need for over 3,400 freighters in the next 20
years to cater for a 5.2% average annual growth rate. In turn, this
will require around 1,600 mid-sized freighters, of which the
A330-200F will play an important role.
With a greater payload than initially anticipated, the A330-200F
offers two operational configurations depending on the planned
mission. The aircraft can carry more than 64 metric tons over 4,000
nautical miles or more than 69 metric tons up to 3,200 nautical
miles non-stop. These range and payload capabilities will enable
operators to open or extending cargo routes they currently operate.
Thanks to an optimized fuselage cross-section, it has the interior
flexibility to carry a wide variety of pallet and container sizes
for maximum interlining capability, offering 30 per cent more
volume than any freighter in its class.
The A330-200F is based on the A330 platform, for which Airbus
has received over 1,000 orders, and to date around 625 aircraft are
in operational service.
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